Strengthening the Asia Pacific Order:
The future of US Alliances and Partners
 

A Round Table Discussion (RTD) on “Strengthening the Asia Pacific Order: The future of US Alliances and Partners” was organised in USI on 19 September 2014. Mr Abraham Denmark, Vice President, Political and Security Affairs, National Bureau of Asian Studies was the speaker. The discussions were designed to explore alliance and partnership dynamics that includes strategic calculations, domestic politics, budgetary factors, and operational military considerations in Asia-Pacific

 An overview of US interest in Asia-pacific region was given where the US Asia balance policy, emergence of multipolar world and challenges to US and its allies in terms of an increasing Chinese assertism were discussed .Concepts of order and power and their play up in the region along with the need to develop an architecture where the global commons could be cohesively addressed was debated. .It was discussed that though US is the dominant player in the region but the emergence of other players were impacting the economic and military developments in Asia towards multi-polarity. Also China’s effort to economically integrate the Asian nations through a three pronged policy of making the Asian nations economically dependent on it through  bilateral aids, multilateral investments through Asian banks and BRICS  and emotional Asian bonhomie were also discussed. Americans believed that this Chinese new economic integration architecture was not attractive as the region needed some   structural reforms based on international law. Western ideas like freedom of navigation, open Sea Lanes of Communication, freedom of press and other democratic values would help in maintaining stability  

Questions like American persuasive power in relation to China, the American policy of containment and cooperation with China, its impact on the relationship with its allies the Chinese counter measures of A2AD, and isolating the Americans through the    idea of Asia for the Asians were also discussed.  The behaviour of American allies and partners as well as Chinese aggressiveness in dealing with the global commons was debated. It was stated that India is an emerging power and its capabilities in terms of economy,   consumer markets, military, and geopolitical strengths cannot be ignored. It was highlighted that Americans need to build a holistic relationship with India based not only on developing trade and commerce but also building military capabilities through transfer of technologies. In conclusion, it was stated that if the Americans  want to continue to be recognized as a  major player in Asia  then they need to be more forthcoming and candid in voicing their opinions in Asia, especially in relation to China,