MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
What to expect from the Trump admINISTRATION'S FOREIN POLICY ON ASIA Any new Asia policy under the Trum guided by free trade and preve
Throughout his second term, then US President Barack Obama made certain that the Asia-Pacific region served as the focal point of US strategic and diplomatic attention, as he built up American forward-deployed forces in the Western Pacific, strengthened bilateral alliances, forged new security partnerships with a number of East Asian states, and boosted US participation in regional organizations. Although unsuccessful, he worked for the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to ensure the US’ economic leadership in East Asia.
The Obama administration’s rebalance to Asia was congruent with the US’ long- standing agenda in the region: to prevent the rise of a power that could threaten American political, economic, and security interests. Its main short-term goal was to constrain China from enforcing its claim in the South China Sea through the maritime capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army’s Navy (PLAN) and from building artificial islands in the disputed waters.
With the election of Donald Trump, some conclude that the rebalance is doomed. This view often stems from President Trump’s opposition to the TPP and campaign pronouncements that the alliance system is unfair to the US. This view, however, ignores the principle behind the rebalancing strategy: that on the basis of geography, interests, and values, the US is a Pacific power that needs to play an important role in shaping the future of this region.
As an American analyst, Ralph Cossa, remarked: “America’s focus on Asia is a national security priority has been a bipartisan constant since the end of the Cold War and the centrality of the US alliance system in Asia — as in Europe ( North Atlantic Treaty Organization) — has been a bipartisan constant since 1950s.”
An essay written by two Trump foreign policy advisers, Alexander Gray and Peter Navarro, revealed that the rebalancing strategy will continue. In the essay, they make the following assertions about the Obama-era rebalance:
1) The US had lost sight of Asia’s strategic importance during 10 years of Middle East Wars;
2) The Obama administration was right to signal reassurance to America’s allies and partners. However, this pivot failed to capture the reality that the US, particularly in the military sphere, had remained deeply committed to the region;
3) There is a general bipartisan support on the strategic rebalancing given that China’s military modernization has generated results and Beijing has been flexing its muscles;
4) The US under Trump will conduct a thorough appraisal of US national interests and will work with any country that shares American goals of stability, prosperity, and security;
5) The Trump administration will pursue a policy of peace through strength by the massive