James Jay Carafano, National Interest: America’s Next 5 Moves in the Indo-Pacific Region
Donald Trump has done much to alter U.S. influence in Asia.
Obama talked of pivoting to Asia. Donald Trump made Asia pivot to America.
In the last two years, Trump has done much to increase U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific region. But much more needs doing. A fast start is well and good, the Indo-Pacific contest is a marathon, not a sprint.
Washington needs to seriously think how the United States can sustain the regional strategy over the long term—well past 2020. The goal is simple. Beijing has to respect America as a formidable Asian power—and concede that the United States is not going anywhere. And what the United States does there must be part of an overall strategy to stabilize key regions of the world and ensure the freedom of the commons (air, sea, space and cyberspace) that benefits the United States and all nations.
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WNU Editor: What has also helped U.S. strategy in Asia is the behaviour of China. From antagonizing its neighbours over border disputes, to Chinese trade and debt practices that have caused a great deal of resentment towards Beijing, many in the region are looking at the U.S. to step up and adopt a more assertive role. In the age of Trump this is happening, and what will probably continue long after he is gone.
