Despite the warnings from China, the Pentagon’s Defense Strategic Guidance offers few surprises. Change has been coming for a while.
Asian countries have reacted strongly to the Pentagon’s new “Defense Strategic Guidance” issued earlier this month. Arguing that the United States finds itself at a “strategic turning point” with the winding down of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the end of the defense buildup that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the report calls for rebalancing U.S. military capabilities by functional and geographic areas, including by “pivoting” U.S. national security efforts eastward toward Asia.
“U.S. economic and security interests are inextricably linked to developments in the arc extending from the Western Pacific and East Asia into the Indian Ocean region and South Asia,” the Guidance affirms, “creating a mix of evolving challenges and opportunities” that will lead the U.S. military to “rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region.”
More colorfully, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, explained during the briefing marking the Guidance’s roll out: “All of the trends, demographic trends, geopolitical trends, economic trends and military trends are shifting toward the Pacific. So our strategic challenges in the future will largely emanate out of the Pacific region, but also the littorals of the Indian Ocean.”
The Guidance therefore advocates a lasting “strategic partnership” with India, reaffirms U.S. security commitments to Japan and South Korea, and declares U.S. intent to invest in the capabilities required to ensure U.S. access to the global commons and freedom of maritime movement despite efforts by some countries (i.e. China and Iran) to deny the United States access to these areas.
The Asian allies of the United States welcomed the Pentagon’s new Guidance. At a Seoul news briefing, Kim Kwan-bin, South Korean Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy, said that “The U.S. defense ministry will put boosting economic and security benefit of the Asia-Pacific region as its first priority, and will recognize South Korea and other allies as the core nations for security in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthen security cooperation.”
Chinese analysts received the new strategy less warmly. A commentary in the English-language Global Times said that the new Strategic Guidance indicated that China was “a firm strategic target of the U.S.” and that Beijing’s “efforts to improve Sino-US relations have proved incapable of offsetting U.S. worries over its rise.”
A Xinhua commentary warned against U.S. “muscle flexing” in Asian regional disputes: “the United States is welcome to make more contribution to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, but it’s possible militarism will cause a lot of ill will and meet with strong opposition in the world's most dynamic region.” In elaborating, the commentary explained that “the United States has the greatest potential to secure world peace and stability, but it also has the greatest power to create chaos. With power comes responsibility, so the United States should exercise the utmost caution in the use of its military forces.”
Asian readers of these texts need to bear certain facts in mind. These national security documents, issued regularly by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and other U.S. government agencies, have multiple audiences within the United States (government agencies, the Congress, and analysts) as well as abroad (foreign allies, partners, and adversaries). They serve both formal and informal functions. Within the United States, they offer official policy and program guidance as well as unofficial tools for bureaucratic infighting by providing documents from which actors can cite supporting statements in their speeches and other statements in budget battles with other agencies. Overseas, they communicate implicit messages to foreign audiences. When they appear in a presidential election year, like this one, you can be fairly certain that White House political advisers had some impact on its drafting as well.
In essence, the Guidance reflects three main developments: the U.S. defense budget is stabilizing due budgetary constraints; the major U.S. wars of the past decade, Afghanistan and Iraq, have or are winding down; and Asia is rising in relative importance in the world, and therefore for the United States, due to its growing share of global population, trade, GDP and other assets.
Photo Credit: U.S. Navy
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Drogon
US and China are preparing for the united Korea, they both have to support, for it’s so important, vital for their futuristic position in Asia, naturally, if any dispute, like fortunetelling in 2012, either peaceful resolution or have little war. eventually may lead to WW III, thereafter, everyone suffers, everyone will lose terribly, And the question is which side the United Korean will become and wondering if United Korea become neutral country like Swiss or something … moreover, US, Russia, China, Japan, Europe are responsible for the united Korea – War or Peace!!
jason bourne
Its very optimistic, be positive, to be advance.
There should always be balance of power in pacific arena, like in SEA.
With standby US forces for emergency crisis, search & rescue, immediate deployment,
also look up to emerging economy, the sea lane & air traffic,
& upcoming nature catastrophic
fury.
Jasp
21st Century_The World will be changing
I believe that Vietnamese communist will not afraid of China; therefore, they’re always trying to tell the world that they are the best in fighting. So, wait and see, who will be a loser.
Annoyed reader
What relevance is this rant here? If you have a problem with China, your girlfriend or your parents, kindly make an appointment with your psychologist. Don’t saddle us with your problem.
dc88
remember what china did to tibet. we have the right to protect our borders.
Annoyed Reader
Are you authorized to speak for Tibet? Who are you? Let us see your credentials.
EJ
This is what happens when you bully your neighbor. 21st century is different back from the 19th century where today alliance and a good neighbor act is great diplomacy and transparency toward their allies. I think China we’ll have a big task to incorporate their strategy towards their neighbor and the US. The US worries about China’s military projection because it has a huge amount of political and economic interest in the region. Politically, China will face issues regarding governance, human rights, and freedom of speech. Economically, they’ll be going under pressure towards their unsystematic way of doing business. Their system is completely different and doesn’t pair very well to their Communist system (Big corporations is owned by the party). This unfair act I think will bite them back in the future. Remember the Soviet Union? That’s what’s going to happen.
Thien
Let’s call it exactly what it is. Chinese regime, you are a bully – always have, always will be. Until your actions change, you are always regarded as such from the international communities.
Liang1a
Thien wrote:
January 27, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Let’s call it exactly what it is. Chinese regime, you are a bully – always have, always will be. Until your actions change, you are always regarded as such from the international communities.
————————-
Liang’s comment:
You better pray China isn’t a bully. So far you are the bully trying to intimidate China into giving up its sovereign territories with accusations of bully. Frankly, I think China should let these people have a taste of what it could be if it were truly a bully. At least show its military strength by taking back its sovereign territories instead of just pleading for friendship and harmony which is understandably interpreted as cowardice by people who are bullies. Bullies alwasy interpret meekness as cowardice. Bullies will always increase their aggression in the face of meekness. China is applying the wrong policy if it thought backing down will cause its enemies to reflect and embrace peace and harmony. The only way to maintain peace in the face of aggression is to show a robust military response.
Annoyed Reader
Is his what the Diplomat Comments section is for? Mindless and hate-filled rants? Freedom is fine but not the right to slander as one please. Who is he keeper of freedom and human rights?
dave
This is a forum for free speech, so please respect other people’s opinion here!He just speaks out the truth!If you feel annoyed then just get lost!!
ari
“Opinions” or slanders and hate-filled rants? Sounds more like abuse of freedom of speech. And Dave tells people to shut-up and “get lost!” Obviously no defender of freedom of speech, this “Dave”.
Cyrus14
@dave thats why in china they dont allow mass anyone to speak out against the regime.
Xenri
Im a filipino but i like china and admired it, i hate my countryman they’re boastful..
Shih Huang Ti
@Xenri
January 27, 2012 at 4:08 pm
You know what is the great problem here in the Philippines?
People like you. Posting at this website without any ideas on the topic and telling that Filipinos are boastful is considered ignorance.
Try to look at your country and see the beauty in it.
I am really ashamed. Go back to school and try to arrange your mindset.
Wendell Lotilla
As long as China does not bully us in our own backyard.
Cyrus14
countryman? they’re? I do not think you are really who you say you are.
I am a Filipino and I don’t like how China is acting.
Dumaguete City, Neg Or
Philippines