Avoiding the Trap: U.S. Strategy and Policy for Competing in the Asia-Pacific: Beyond the Rebalance

This book is the product of a U.S. Army War College (USAWC) Integrated Research Project (IRP). It addresses a Chief of Staff, Army priority research topic and was sponsored by the U.S. Army Pacific and the Headquarters, Department of the Army, Directorate of Strategy, Plans, and Policy (HQDA G-35). The book resulted from a whole-of-War College effort. Core curriculum and regional elective studies augmented student research and facilitated analysis. Faculty from across the USAWC supported analytical discussions, mentored student participants, and reviewed the written contributions. Students and faculty met with Asia-Pacific policy experts in the U.S. Government from the Department of State, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the National Security Council. Researchers also traveled to the Asia-Pacific to meet with senior military leaders and security analysts in Japan and China, as well as the major U.S. military commands in Hawaii, to explore issues and develop recommendations on regional issues. Students, along with leading think tank subject matter experts from the Washington, DC, area, presented selected topics from this book at a round-table organized in conjunction with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. This book explores the validity of the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific; analyzes the ends, ways, and means of the strategy to meet U.S. and regional partner security objectives; and considers the effectiveness of the U.S. Government effort. This book focuses on the impact of China’s increasing national power on U.S. objectives and those of Asia-Pacific nations. The instruments of national power are assessed to include hard power, economic, military, and diplomatic, along with providing recommendations for the United States’ use of soft power. In addition to China, country specific chapters include an analysis and security recommendations concerning issues related to North and South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. Analysis and recommendations in this book may provide insights for Trump’s NSS and subsequent security documents and will inform security professionals across the U.S. Government, outside of government, and foreign governments as they modify their approaches to this critical region. Read more