(Last of Two Parts)
The primary requisite for the U.S.’ and her close allies’ vital interests is having a free and open Indo-Pacific which “requires governments to make their choices to be assuring that shared domains are governed lawfully,” according to the facts sheet on U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy declassified by the White House this month.
The U.S. strategy begins with strengthening resilience within individual countries among allies to advance a free and open region, even as it underscores to roles of: 1) democratic institutions, a free press, and a vibrant civil society; as well as 2) improved fiscal transparency in the Indo-Pacific and having to expose corruption and drive reform; 3) the International Law to govern the region’s seas and skies; and 4) Advancing common approaches to critical and emerging technologies, the internet, and cyber space.
The declassified document says the U.S. takes the lead to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” that is built among allies on a “collective capacity for a new age.” Indo-Pacific nations shall be adoptive of alliances, as well as the organizations and the rules that they together have helped build.
The international and institutional alliances ought to build a collective capacity within and beyond the region, by: 1) Deepening the U.S. five regional treaty alliances with Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand; 2) Strengthening relationships with leading regional partners, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands; 3) Contributing to an empowered and unified ASEAN; 4) Strengthening the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the U.S., India, Japan and Australia) and delivering on its commitments; 5) Supporting India’s continued rise and regional leadership; 6) Partnering to build resilience in the Pacific Islands; 7) Forging connections between the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic; and 8) Expanding U.S. diplomatic presence in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands;
“The prosperity of everyday Americans is linked to the Indo-Pacific.” That fact requires investments to encourage innovation, strengthen economic competitiveness, produce good-paying jobs, rebuild supply chains, and expand economic opportunities for middle-class families—under which 1.5 billion peoples in the Indo-Pacific are envisaged to join the global middle class this decade.
The alliance will drive Indo-Pacific prosperity with: 1) Indo-Pacific economic framework, through which the alliance will: a) Develop new approaches to trade that meet high labor and environmental standards; b) Govern transnational digital economies and cross-border data flows according to open principles, including new digital economy framework; c) Advance resilience and secure supply chains that are diverse, open, and predictable; d) Make shared investments on decarbonization and clean energy; e) Promoting free, fair, and open trade and investment through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), including in the 2023 U.S. hosting of the APEC Summit; and f) Closing the region’s infrastructure gap through Build-Back Better World with G7 partners.
“For 75 years, the U.S. has maintained a strong and consistent defense presence necessary to support regional peace, security, stability, and prosperity. It is extending and modernizing that role and enhancing capabilities to defend its interests and to deter aggression against U.S. territory and against its allies and partners,” the document stated.
The U.S. IP Strategy will strengthen Indo-Pacific security, drawing on all instruments of power to deter aggression and to counter coercion, by: 1) advancing integrated deterrence; 2) Deepening cooperation and enhancing interoperability with allies and partners; 3) Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait; 4) Innovating to operate in (fast) evolving threat environments, including space, cyberspace, and critical- and emerging-technology areas; 5) Strengthening extended deterrence and coordination with our ROK and Japanese allies and pursuing the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; 6) Continuing to deliver on AUKUS (Trilateral Security Agreement Between Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S.); 7) Expanding U.S. Coast Guard presence and cooperation against other transnational threats; and 8) Working with (U.S.) Congress to fund the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and the Maritime Security Initiative.
