1

Global power shift and the US two-flanks policy

China’s rise changes the balance of power in the international system, and how great powers relate to each other. We are increasingly entering a world system where the us and China stand above all other countries in terms of economic and military power. although europe and Russia play second fiddle in this new system, the asian and european flanks of the eurasian continent — in other words, the two flanks of the us — are increasingly interconnected as strategic theaters.

as a response to a more powerful and emboldened China, the administration of us President barack Obama in 2011 announced its “rebalance” to asia. This not only caused alarm in beijing, but also in european capitals, where leaders voiced their concerns about the us commitment to the security of europe and the future of transatlantic relations. europe’s concerns increased further after Russia’s move into Crimea and eastern ukraine in 2014. Responding to Russian assertiveness, the us is now moving back into europe, and NATO’S military presence has been enhanced in the eastern part of the alliance. The latter development has caused concern in Japan. The main worry in Tokyo is that if the deterioration of the strategic environment in europe con-