Name: Kim Angielane Tanque Date: July 18 2016

Block: 3 Schedule: 8:00-9:30 AM

Behind US pivot to Asia

United States pivot to Asia represents a major break with twenty years of liberal and

neoconservative priorities in American foreign policy. The pivot to Asia reflects a return to realist

thinking in terms of America’s international goals. US pivot to Asia initially rolled out as a

process wherein US allocates more attention and resources to Asia, expands and intensifies its

contacts with Asia, and attempts to develop a more coherent and encompassing strategy for

Asia. It was Obama who administrated this regional strategy last 2012, whose key areas of

actions are: strengthening bilateral alliances; improving our working relationships with emerging

powers, engaging with regional multilateral institutions; expanding trade and investment; forging

a broad-based military presence; and advancing democracy and human rights. The Obama

administration follows a long line of U.S. governments that, since the end of World War II, has

successfully underpin stability and security in the Asia by maintaining a large troop presence in

East Asia and by involving the United States in most major diplomatic developments in the

region. Nations across Asia have responded negatively to the "Pivot." What gains the US has

made, have been made through coercion, political subversion, and even terrorism, and this is

done in front of an increasingly geopolitically aware Asian population. The pivot has been a

disadvantage. Concurrently, details of a new operational concept called Air Sea Battle were

released on January 2012 as the same time as the pivot began, that despite protestations to

the contrary, is more or less about how to defeat China in a conflict. This coincidence of events

has regional allies believing that the U.S. has carefully developed some new "secret sauce" to

keep the peace in Asia. Obama’s administration made a critical strategic choice that affected

the posture of Asia. They slashed the defense budget of Asia last 2009 to the tune of about 400

billion. The defense cuts badly affect the forces we need in Asia. The stealthy F-35 program has
taken a big hit. The navy has said it needs anywhere from 500 to 313 ships in its fleet. It will end

up with around 285 total ships by the end of the next five year defense program. From my point

of view, the sole purpose of the pivot is stoke conflicts in Asia. The Americans will not fight

China directly but they will wait and encourage other to follow suit. After the firefights started,

Americans will get out with it. The pivot to Asia recognises that the next great threat to Asian

peace is China. They are growing and, flexing their muscles. Like Germany before WW1, they

want a big slice of the pie.