| Description |
1 online resource (iv, 28 pages) : color illustrations, color map (digital, PDF file) |
| Contents |
The strategic context -- Methodology -- Enduring US interests in Asia -- The mounting challenge to the United States in Asia -- The Chinese challenge -- Regional assessment -- Strategic alternatives -- Essential elements of a forward-leaning strategy -- Acquiring capabilities -- Conclusion |
| Summary |
Since the end of World War II, the United States has developed a characteristic approach to protecting its interests in Asia. In peace and in war, the US position in Asia has rested on a set of alliances, ground and air forces deployed on allied and US territory, nuclear-strike forces, and carrier-strike groups operating in the Western Pacific. But China has been working systematically to undermine the American approach to assurance, deterrence, and warfighting. Specifically, China's military modernization, if it continues apace, may allow it to decouple America's allies from the US extended nuclear deterrent, to destroy US and allied fixed bases in the region, and to threaten US power projection forces. This, in turn, could allow China to coerce US allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region, hold US forces at arm's length, and control the seas along the Asian periphery. The United States faces three fundamental strategic alternatives as it seeks to match its ends and its means in an increasingly turbulent environment. The first strategic alternative is to continue America's current approach to the region -- that is, to pursue broad objectives even as the military balance shifts against the United States. The second alternative, favored by neo-isolationists in both US political parties, would be to scale back US commitments and to accept a narrower definition of America's role in the world than the nation has played for the better part of a century. A third and more favorable approach would be to adopt a forward-leaning strategy that would balance the need to reduce the vulnerability of US forces while maintaining US commitments. It would incorporate a mixture of forward-based and standoff capabilities that would reclaim the military advantages the United States has long enjoyed and that have become essential to American strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, to reduce operational risk and to avoid sacrificing America's strategic interests, a forward-leaning strategy would feature greater specialization than does today's posture between "presence" forces for keeping the peace and those for fighting wars |
| Notes |
Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 25, 2012) |
|
"June 2012." |
|
"A project of the American Enterprise Institute." |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 23-25) |
| Subject |
Security, International -- Asia
|
|
Diplomatic relations.
|
|
Military policy.
|
|
Security, International.
|
|
Strategic aspects of individual places.
|
| SUBJECT |
United States -- Foreign relations -- Asia
|
|
Asia -- Foreign relations -- United States
|
|
China -- Foreign relations -- Asia
|
|
Asia -- Foreign relations -- China
|
|
United States -- Military policy -- 21st century
|
|
China -- Military policy -- 21st century
|
|
Asia -- Strategic aspects
|
| Subject |
Asia.
|
|
China.
|
|
United States.
|
| Form |
Electronic book
|
| Author |
Blumenthal, Dan.
|
|
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.
|
|
