US Military Posture in the Asia-Pacific and its Impact on Regional Stability

Syed Ali Abbas; Amna Saqib; Maryyum Masood

doi:10.61732/bj.v3i1.88

Authors

Syed Ali Abbas Research Officer at CISS, Islamabad https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2041-5341
Amna Saqib Research Officer at CISS, Islamabad https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8486-6021
Maryyum Masood Research Officer at CISS, Islamabad https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3530-7933

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61732/bj.v3i1.88

Keywords:

Asia-Pacific, South Asia, Regional Stability, Strategic Competition, China , United States

Abstract

The geopolitics of Asia-Pacific are witnessing a transition. The regional powers calculate their bets as China rises as a key player and challenges the traditional dominance of the United States. The region hosts various flashpoints – in the wake of rising tensions, the US and China may redefine the power equilibrium, resulting in increased militarization and altering the region’s security environment. The evolving geopolitical dynamics thus characterize a power rivalry between these two powers. In pursuit of influence and supremacy, the US generates far-reaching consequences for regional stability. The involvement of the US in the region and the interests of regional stakeholders are closely connected with the US-China competition. This research paper analyzes this environment in a comprehensive manner, taking into account the multifaceted drivers shaping regional security dynamics. In addition, it highlights the complex network of alliances and military modernization efforts that are exacerbating the strategic equilibrium within the region. It also explores the complex maritime disputes in the South and East China Seas, highlighting the direct territorial and strategic stakes for both the US and China.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Syed Ali Abbas, Research Officer at CISS, Islamabad

Syed Ali Abbas is Research Officer and Media Head at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad

Amna Saqib, Research Officer at CISS, Islamabad

The Author is Working as a Research Officer & Managing Editor at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.

Maryyum Masood, Research Officer at CISS, Islamabad

Maryyum Masood is Research Officer and Associate Editor at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad

References

Francis Fukuyama, “The End of History?” The National Interest, no. 16 (1989): 3–18.

“Milestones: 1945–1952 - Office of the Historian.” Accessed November 12, 2023. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/kennan.

Yang, William. “China Prioritizes De-escalation With US Through Xi-Biden Meeting.” Accessed November 12, 2023. https://www.voanews.com/a/analysts-china-prioritizes-de-escalation-with-us-through-xi-biden-meeting/7357624.html.

“Diego Garcia: A Militarized Island in the Indian Ocean.” The Funambulist Magazine. January 2, 2017. https://thefunambulist.net/magazine/09islands/diego-garcia-militarized-island-indian-ocean-greg-barton.

“Oahu Hawaii Military Bases | Military.Com.” Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.military.com/base-guide/oahu-hawaii-military-bases.

Bazai, Pairman. “The Geopolitics of Asia-Pacific: Containment of China.” The Geopolitics, April 24, 2023. https://thegeopolitics.com/the-geopolitics-of-asia-pacific-containment-of-china/.

Lieberthal, Kenneth G. “The American Pivot to Asia | Brookings.” Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-american-pivot-to-asia/.

Tehseen, Mohammad. “Sino-US Competition: Implications for South Asia and the Asia-Pacific.” Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI), Islamabad, January 11, 2020.https://issi.org.pk/wpcontent/uploads/2018/01/1SS_Mohammad_Tehseen_No-4_2017.pdf.

Myre, Greg. “Long Promised and Often Delayed, the ‘pivot to Asia’ Takes Shape under Biden.” NPR, October 6, 2021. National Security. https://www.npr.org/2021/10/06/1043329242/long-promised-and-often-delayed-the-pivot-to-asia-takes-shape-under-biden.

“Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, June 6, 2023. https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/page25e_000278.html.

“RCEP,” RCEP, n.d., https://rcepsec.org/.

“RCEP Agreement Enters into Force.” ASEAN Main Portal, December 31, 2021. https://asean.org/rcep-agreement-enters-into-force/.

Allison, Graham, et al. “The Great Tech Rivalry: China vs the U.S.” Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, December 7, 2021. https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/great-tech-rivalry-china-vs-us.

Associated Press. “What Is the Quad, and How Did It Come About?” The Guardian, May 24, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/24/

what-is-the-quad-and-how-did-it-come-about.

Duggal, Mahima. “Quad as Asian NATO: A Practical Proposition?” In Multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific, Routledge, 2022.

Roudgar, Iraj. “New Military Modernization in the Asia-Pacific Region.” Journal of Political Sciences & Public Affairs 4, no. 2 (May 28, 2016). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3232756.

“Game Play in the Indo-Pacific: Many Players, Strategic Interests, and Common Challenges > Air University (AU) > Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs Article Display.” Accessed November 6, 2023. https://www.airuniversity.af.edu

/JIPA/Display/Article/3285742/game-play-in-the-indo-pacific-many-players-strategic-interests-and-common-chall/.

McGregor, Richard. “The Chinese Communist Party: 100 Years That Shook the World.” The Guardian, June 27, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world

/2021/jun/27/the-chinese-communist-party-100-years-that-shook-the-world.

“World Military Expenditure Reaches New Record High as European Spending Surges | SIPRI.” April 24, 2023. https://www.sipri.org/news/2023/world-military-expenditure-reaches-new-record-high-european-spending-surges-0.

“SIPRI, “World Military Expenditure Reaches New Record High.”

Bommakanti, Kartik, et al. “Emerging Technologies and India's Defence Preparedness.” ORF Special Report No. 209, April 2023. Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/research/emerging-technologies-and-indias-defence-preparedness/.

Kerr, Julian, and Andrew MacDonald. “Australia Proposes Defence Spending Boost for 2023.” Janes, October 26, 2022. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/australia-proposes-defence-spending-boost-for-2023.

Dominguez, Gabriel, and Mark Cazalet. “South Korea to Deploy Rail-Mounted Robot, AI-Based Surveillance Systems to Enhance Border Security.” Janes, June 16, 2021. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korea-to-deploy-rail-mounted-robot-ai-based-surveillance-systems-to-enhance-border-security.

Press, Kim Tong-Hyung. “North Korea Passes New Defense Budget.” Defense News, January 19, 2023. https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/01/19/north-korea-passes-new-defense-budget/

Singh, Gurjit. “Military Expansion among ASEAN Members.” Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/military-expansion-among-asean-members/.

“Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2022 | SIPRI.” Accessed November 6, 2023. https://www.sipri.org/publications/2023/sipri-fact-sheets/trends-world-military-expenditure-2022.

“SIPRI, “World Military Expenditure Reaches New Record High.”

Schrag, Jacque. “How Much Trade Transits the South China Sea?” ChinaPower Project, August 2, 2017. https://chinapower.csis.org/much-trade-transits-south-china-sea/.

Limpot, Kristel. “PH to Boost Military Presence in West PH Sea amid Chinese Activities.” CNN Philippines, December 22, 2022. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/12/22/ph-boost-military-presence-west-ph-sea.html.

Kelly, Tim, and Sakura Murakami. “Pacifist Japan Unveils Biggest Military Build-up since World War Two.” Reuters, December 17, 2022. Asia Pacific. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pacifist-japan-unveils-unprecedented-320-bln-military-build-up-2022-12-16/.

“DoD Releases Fiscal Year 2022 Freedom of Navigation Report.” U.S. Department of Defense, April 21, 2023. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases

/Release/Article/3370607/dod-releases-fiscal-year-2022-freedom-of-navigation-report/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.defense.gov%2FNews%2FReleases%2FRelease%2FArticle%2F3370607%2Fdod-releases-fiscal-year-2022-freedom-of-navigation-report%2F.

“The U.S. Military’s Force Structure: A Primer, 2021 Update.” Congressional Budget Office, May 20, 2021. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57088.

US DoD. “DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET OVERVIEW.” U.S. Department of Defense, last modified 2022. https://media.defense.gov/2022/Mar/28/2002964733/-1/-1/1/FY%202023%20DAF%20BUDGET.PDF.F

Decker, Audrey. “R&D Tops Procurement in Air Force’s 2024 Budget Proposal.” Defense One, March 13, 2023.https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/03/rd-tops-procurement-air-forces-2024-budget-proposal/383897/.

“50 United States Fighter Jets: F-15, F-16, F-22, F-35, F/A-18.” Accessed November 5, 2023.http://www.worldwidemilitary.com/Military%20Aircraf/US%20Fighters/USFighters_EN.htm.

“B-52H Stratofortress.” Air Force. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104465/b-52hstratofortress/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.af.mil%2FAbout-Us%2FFactSheets%2FDisplay%2FArticle%2F104465%2Fb-52h-stratofortress%2F.

Loewenson, Irene. “Corps Plans to Spend More Money on Retaining, Training Marines.” Marine Times, March 14, 2023.https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/03/13/corps-plans-to-spend-more-moneyon-retaining-training-marines/.

“United States Space Force Mission.” Accessed November 6, 2023. https://www.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/About-Space-Force/Mission/.

US DoD. “US Space Force.” Air & Space Forces Magazine, last modified June 2020.https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2020/06/Spaceforce.pdf.US DoD, “US Space Force,” Air & Space Forces Magazine, last modified June 2020, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/app/uploads/2020/06/Spaceforce.pdf.

“The Department of Defense Releases the President’s Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Budget.” U.S. Department of Defense, March 28, 2022. https://shorturl.at/hjKM2.

US DoD. “Fact Sheet: 2022 National Defense Strategy.” U.S. Department of Defense, last modified 2022. https://media.defense.gov/2022/Mar/28/2002964702/-1/-1/1/NDS-FACT-SHEET.PDF.

“U.S. Indo-Pacific Command > About USINDOPACOM > USPACOM Area of Responsibility.” PACOM, n.d. https://www.pacom.mil/AboutUSINDOPACOM/USPACOM-Area-of-Responsibility/.

Katz, Justin. “US Indo-Pacific Command Seeks $15.3 Billion in New, Independent Budget Request.” Breaking Defense, March 9, 2023. https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2023/03/us-indo-pacificcommand-seeks-15-3-billion-in-new-independent-budget-request/.

“The U.S.-Japan Alliance.” Accessed November 6, 2023.https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL33740.html.

The White House. “Washington Declaration.” The White House, April 26, 2023. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statementsreleases/2023/04/26/washington-declaration-2/./

“AUKUS: The Trilateral Security Partnership Between Australia, UK, and US.” US Department of Defense. Accessed October 30, 2023.https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/AUKUS/.

“Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America, August 30, 1951.” Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, August 30, 1951.https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1951/08/30/

mutual-defense-treaty-between-the-republic-of-the-philippines-and-the-united-states-of-america-august-30-1951/.

“The United States-Thailand Relationship.” United States Department of State, July 7, 2022. https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-thailand-relationship/.

Parks, Thomas, and Benjamin Zawacki. The Future of Thai-U.S. Relations: Views of Thai and American Leaders on the Bilateral Relationship and Ways Forward. 2018. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18763.87844.

Herb, Jeremy, and Eric Cheung. “US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Lands in Taiwan amid Threats of Chinese Retaliation.” CNN, August 2, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/nancy-pelosi-visit-taipei-taiwan-trip/index.html.

“US Senate Advances Bill to Significantly Expand Taiwan Support.” Al Jazeera, September 15, 2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/15/us-senate-advances-bill-to-significantly-expand-taiwan-support.

“22 USC 2321k: Designation of Major Non-NATO Allies.” Accessed November 5, 2023.https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:22%20section:2321k%20edition:prelim)

Hanna, Jason. “What Is the Five Eyes Intelligence Pact?” CNN, May 25, 2017. https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/25/world/uk-us-five-eyes-intelligenceexplainer/index.html.

The White House. “FACT SHEET: President Biden Unveils First-Ever Pacific Partnership Strategy.” The White House, September 29, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/29/fact-sheet-president-biden-unveils-first-ever-pacific-partnership-strategy/.

The White House. “FACT SHEET: United States and India Elevate Strategic Partnership with the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).” The White House, January 31, 2023. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/31/fact-sheet-united-states-and-india-elevate-strategic-partnership-with-the-initiative-on-critical-and-emerging-technology-icet/.

Masood, M., and A. Saqib. “The US is Shaping the Asia Pacific for Better or Worse.” Inkstick Media, 2023. https://inkstickmedia.com/the-us-is-shaping-the-asia-pacific-for-better-or-worse/.