Asia Pacific Countries and the US Rebalancing Strategy, 1st ed. 2016

This book examines the success of the US rebalancing (or pivot) strategy towards Asia, placing the US pivot in a historical context while highlighting its policy content and management dilemmas. Further, the contributors discuss the challenges and opportunities that each regional state confronts in responding to the US rebalancing strategy. 

In 2011, President Barack Obama laid out the framework for a strategic pivot of US policy towards the Asia Pacific region. Writers in this volume focus specifically on Asian perception of the strategy. Among the topics they explore are: China?s desire to be seen as equal to the US while maintaining foreign policy initiatives independent of the US strategic rebalance; the strengthening of Japan?s alliance with the US through its security policies; the use of US-China competition by South Korea to negotiate its influence in the region; and Australia?s embrace of the strategy as a result of foreign direct investmentthat provides economic benefits to the country.

 

1. The Obama “Pivot” to Asia in a Historical Context of American Hegemony.- 2. Challenges to the US rebalance to Asia.- 3. Balancing Signals in the US Rebalancing Strategy to Asia.- 4. The Chinese Response to the U.S. Rebalancing Strategy: Sino-U.S. Relations and Washington’s Pivot to Asia.- 5. Chinese Response to Obama’s Rebalancing to Asia Strategy.- 6. Japan’s “Proactive Contribution” and the U.S. Rebalancing Policy.- 7. The U.S. Strategic Rebalance and South Korea’s Dilemma: Uncertain Future and Force Decisions.- 8: ASEAN-Related Regional Arrangements, China and the U.S. Rebalancing.- 9. America’s Asia-Pacific Rebalance and the Hazards of Hedging: A Review of Evidence from Southeast Asia.- 10. U.S. Rebalancing Strategy and Australia’s Response: Business as Usual.- 11. India’s Response to U.S. Rebalancing Strategy.- 12. From Washington with Love? Taiwan’s Perspective on the U.S. Rebalance to Asia.- 13. U.S. RebalancingStrategy and Taiwan’s Responses.- 14. South China Sea Disputes: Taiwan’s Opportunities and Challenges.- 15. The U.S. Commitment to Asia’s Stability and Japan’s Readiness to Rely on Its Security Provision.