PICTURE INTERPRETATION IN CONTEXT OF A.P.I AND POWER: AUSTRALIA, CHINA, US INTERACTION IN INDO-PACIFIC REGION

In recent times, the Indo-Pacific region is one of the most dynamic with newly rising and developing powers. Rivalry within the region, which has stemmed from border issues to cultural issues within nations, sets the region to be one of the most volatile one. Its dynamicness along with its abundance of resources has caught the attention of major powers to gain influence in the region, including People’s Republic of China, Australia, and The United States. In depicting tense political situations, satrical cartoons are one of the most popular media to be used in publications. This paper conducts a semiotic analysis towards one of these cartoons which can be interpereted to depict the recent developments regarding major power rivalry within the region. Relating to the concept of balance of power, the analysis will be used to further explain the actions and history of interactions between these powers in the region along with their future motivations.


Introduction
In this picture (drawn by cartoonist Liu Rui in 2020), we can see three separate object interacting with each other. We can see a kangaroo being puppeteer to fight a panda by a hand with two-layered outfit, a suit often being worn by government officials and executive. On top of the suit, the flag of United States of America is seen embedded on the suit. The hand is seen puppeteering a kangaroo with boxing gloves and shorts, holding and making the kangaroo ready to fight. Finally, in front of the kangaroo is a panda, standing still while looking the hand that is puppeteering the kangaroo. The panda in the left side of the caricature, is a typical representation of the People's Republic of China. As panda is the national animal of the PRC and endemic to Chinese territory. In fact, historically PRC has conducted a 'Panda Diplomacy' that uses Panda to promote their nation. (Lin, 2009) In front of the panda is another animal, a kangaroo with boxing gloves and shorts. The kangaroo with the boxing gloves are a typical representation of Australia. The same as panda that represents the PRC, kangaroo was a national animal of Australia and endemic to Australian territory. The kangaroo is a unique wildlife that can only be found in Australia. Thereupon, the kangaroo is used as the national icon to distinguish themselves with other country. The kangaroo icon is used as part of the coat of arms and in various logos and mascot at international Jurnal Diplomasi Pertahanan, Volume 8, Nomor 1, 2022E-ISSN 2746 134 sporting events. The kangaroo is seen with boxing gloves and shorts, this might signify how the kangaroo is ready to fight the opponent in front of him. But frequently, kangaroo was associated with boxing. This idea and association originated from kangaroo defensive's behaviour, in which a kangaroo will use its smaller forelegs to hold its attacker in place, while also using its larger limbs to try attack, claw, and kick the opponent. This defensive stance that kangaroo take appears like a boxing stance to its opponents and spectators alike.
On top the kangaroo, a hand puppeteering the kangaroo is seen holding a vertical and horizontal bars that was used to control it. This hand is depicted wearing two-layered outfit, a suit often being worn by government officials and executive. The United States of America flag is seen embedded to the sleeves, signifying that the hand that is puppeteering the kangaroo is the United States of America government from behind the scene.
In the context of International relations system of Actors, Processes, and Issues, the Actors displayed in this picture are a panda, representing the People's Republic of China, a kangaroo with boxing gloves, that represents Australia, and a hand that's puppeteering the kangaroo, which represents the United States of America.
The issue that is depicted in this caricature is the conflict in Indo-Pacific Region. America can't afford to directly intervene in this conflict. As the nearest major western power near South East Asia, the United States of America would then make an arrangement and alliance with Australia to deal with this conflict. This paper will further describe actors, processes, and Issues involved in higher detail.

Conceptual Framework
This paper will analyze the issue of Actors in Indo-pacific region using the basic concept of Actors, Processes, and Issues (API) which is a basic element in international relation. Identifying actors will give a clearer picture and deeper understanding in analyzing the events of international relation. In this concept, Actors are those states, or in some cases non-state, which are involved in a certain event or issue. The processes are the means which these actors use to deal with certain issue, such as using military, diplomacy, or economy. Meanwhile issues are the problems themselves which requires to be processed by Actors, or acts from certain actors which caused issue towards other actors therefore generating conflict.
Furthermore, these actors, processes, and issues are to be related to the concept of power, to see how and why these nations commited such actions, and how does these actions increase or decrease the power of a certain nation. Power itself can come in several form, and is not limited to the traditional concept of military strenght of an individual nation. The concept of power can be measured from other indicators, such as the economic capabilities of a nation, along with how much influence a nation has towards others. In this case, the theory of balance of power (Burchill & Linklater, 2013) will be used to analyze the issues regarding US, Australia, and China in their interests within Indo-Pacific region.  (Liu, 2021) Recently, China has been one of the most prominent rising power, both in economic and military. Since the 2010s, Chinese products has been exported all over the world and even western powers took advantage of considerably cheap chinese labour and production costs by producing their products in China. Chinese brands are considerably as popular as western ones these days especially in thrid world nations which generally has consumers with less buying capbilities. Their rising power coupled with their assertion of soverignty towards Taiwan and Southe China Sea regions, led The US and their allies to constantly take precaution towards China.  . Malaya Insurgency and Vietnam war, all the way to the East Timor Crisis in the 1990s.

United States of America
The

Issues
Since 2013, China has tried to acquire part of the South China Sea. China tried to claim the territories within the 'Nine-Dashed Line'. (Qiang & Zongqiang, 2015) In

2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration backed the Philippines in initiating
arbitration proceedings against China. There was no evidence of the territories within the 'Nine-Dashed Lines' that PRC has historically exercised exclusive control over the water and natural resources. Therefore, China claim has no legal basis to claim the territory with historic rights. Even then, the PRC hasn't stop trying to claim and asserting dominance in South China Sea. In March 2020, approximately 220 Chinese military vessels were spotted inside the disputed area. This action rose concern for its neighbouring countries, as they know they can't let the PRC do as they may but a full confrontation with the PRC would result on their lost. This repeated action from the PRC has been continuing and making the Indo-Pacific giving anything in return. There would also be a slimmer to no chance that the PRC would let these maritime shipments be escorted by military navy for its security, something that would make the United States feel unsafe for their shipment as there's always a chance for attacks from pirates or any kind of threat.

Processes
As stated before, the People's Republic of China action in acquiring the South Aside from France, New Zealand also voiced their disapproval. Earlier during the cold war era, New Zealand's role in ANZUS treaty was considerably reduced due to their disapproval of using nuclear weapons, which includes their disallowance of nuclear submarines within their territories. South East Asian countries including Indonesia also voiced their concern that the establishment of PRC is likely to affect The South East Asian nations, which are located in-between the two powers geographically.

Balance of Power
Despite  The activity of security during a wartime relates to defence agaisnt other nations, therefore in the course of war AUKUS may easily be 'updated' into a full blown military alliance.

Conclusion
Three main actors, which can be considered as major powers, play a part in balance. An unbalanced power, when a powerful nation has no other powers opposing them, will increase their confidence to do as they please which may include harming other nations in order to pursue their national interests. This is what AUKUS may try to prevent by their establishment, which is in order for China to be aware that there are surrounding powers opposing them and their action may lead to fatal consequences.