On The United States Pacific Command During Cold War 1947-1980

The U.S. Pacific Command is the supreme command of U.S. military in the Asia Pacific region. It is also the product of the United States’ long-term interaction with Asia Pacific international configuration. As the United States gradually developed from a peripheral country into the dominant force in the Asia Pacific regional order, its forces in Asia Pacific became more powerful and played an important role in constructing the Asia Pacific International Configuration in line with their own interests and competing for their regional dominance. After World War II, the U.S. Forces in Asia Pacific region integrated into the Pacific Command, and continued to serve as the United States’ Asia Pacific interests defenders in the beginning of the Cold War. This dissertation attempts to elaborate the measures taken by the Pacific Command to safeguard the interests of the United States under different circumstances and then, sum up the multi-role played by the Pacific Command.This dissertation consists of seven parts which are introduction, five chapters of main body, and conclusion. The main content is as follows:The introduction part first traces the historical development of the Pacific Command, and then summarizes the research findings at home and abroad concerning this dissertation. On that basis, research ideas, research methods, and the theoretical and practical significance are expounded.The first chapter examines the development of the United States Forces in Asia Pacific in the view of globalization. This is the historical and logical starting point of this dissertation. With the expansion of the United States in the Asia Pacific Region, the traditional Tributary System began to collapse while the modern international system was established. When participating in the dismantling of the old order, the United States had a competition with other competitors for Asia Pacific regional leadership, and ultimately became the Asia Pacific hegemony after World War II. In this process, United States Forces in Asia Pacific became more and more powerful and eventually became the Pacific Command.The second chapter describes the Pacific Command’s military interventions during the early Cold War. After a series of adjustments, the Pacific Command became the only Unified Combatant Command in the Asia Pacific region. Under the guidance of the Cold War containment strategy, the Pacific Command focused its theater strategies on the comprehensive containment of socialist camp and the achievement of its position of preeminence in the Cold War. Accordingly, a variety of operational plans had been developed to reach the goals. Moreover, in order to seek strategic advantages over the socialist camp, the Pacific Command implemented military interventions in North Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.The third chapter discusses how the Pacific Command shaped security by consolidating the U.S. security alliances in the Asia Pacific region and strengthening the deployment of troops. To strengthen the security alliances, the Pacific Command provided military assistance to alliances, and carried out cooperation with the allies. At the same time the Pacific Command constantly strengthened the deployment of troops, which was regarded as the U.S. strategic pillar for seeking strategic advantages.The fourth chapter analyzes the Pacific Command’s activities in accordance with the détente strategy. During the peak period of the Cold War, the Pacific Command failed to win the strategic advantage. As Nixon administration tended to adopt strategic contraction, the Cold War tension began to ease up. Because of the strength reduction, the Pacific Command abandoned the previous policy of comprehensive containment taken to seek for strategic advantage. Instead, it turned to construct strategic balance which means the balance between capabilities and objectives, and the balanced alliance relationship.The last chapter is the conclusion part. It examines the multiple roles played by the Pacific Command from multiple perspectives. The Pacific Command has been the defender of U.S. interests in Asia Pacific Region, and the shaper of Asia-Pacific international configuration. At present, the U.S. Pacific Command pursues the policy of “engagement and prevention” in China. It is based on the argument that China will challenge U.S. dominance in Asia Pacific. Therefore, the presence of the Pacific Command in this region on one hand is in favor of promoting regional stability; and on the other hand it itself is an unstable factor for this region. Meanwhile, the constantly changing Asia-Pacific international configuration leaves the Pacific Command’s future uncertain.