Shaping China's Development: Stable Growth of an Asia-Pacific Might

摘要

Over the past 30 years, China has emerged from an isolationist, introverted state into a global economic and political power. This growth has allowed China to expand its military, reaching a level of 'near-peer' competitor to the United States, yet that growth is shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. The United States must strive to ascertain China's future intentions, and develop a strategy that prepares for two possibilities: peaceful engagement with a prosperous China, or response to an aggressive and militant China. The global environment has changed since the end of the Cold War, and even though the United States is still the dominant global superpower, its influence is waning. The Asia-Pacific region, stretching from Japan to Australia to the Indian Ocean to Central Asia, is a vast expanse with a large, diverse population supporting the gamut of social, economic, religious, and governmental constructs. The United States is a 'Pacific nation,' but it must rely upon allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region to commit to 'burden- sharing' to maintain security and stability. Keeping key allies and partners aligned with itself is much more challenging in today's globalized world, and the complex and interdependent nature of the Asia-Pacific region adds to the difficulty. The United States needs to adapt its strategy towards dealing with regional allies, and it must do so with the combined efforts of all of the elements of national power, promoting the military component needed for security, while also enhancing its efforts in other areas. The United States needs to continue, or in certain cases, initiate engaging and cooperative dialogue, even with sometimes troublesome nations such as North Korea. Additionally, doing so in both a bilateral and multilateral construct will bring about the most positive benefits of international diplomacy, and thus further promote security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.