A Security Strategy Study Of The US Return To Southeast Asia In The 21~st Century

The decline of US and the rise of China are regarded as the most significant event in the field of international affairs of the 21st Century. In order to safeguard its global hegemony and national interests in the Asia-Pacific region, the US implemented the strategic return to Southeast Asia which largely transformed the global, particularly the regional security pattern. An in-depth study of the strategic context, aim, approach and effects of the mentioned trend is of essential importance to deepen the study of security strategy theories and guarding the global, regional and national security.During the initial period of the Cold War, with the escalation of US-Soviet confrontation and the spread of national liberation movement, the US started its intervention in Southeast Asia. Through the establishment of bilateral and multilateral military alliance, the implementation of military and economic aids and even armed intervention represented by the Vietnam War, the US had made utmost efforts to secure the military balance in the region. However, the loss of Vietnam War temporarily drove the US away from Indochina. In order to compete against the Soviet expansion in the later half of the Cold War, the US launched another wave of intervention which characterized by a lowered level of military operation but strengthened bilateral and multilateral mechanism, higher level of military and economic aids and more active trading connection with its regional allies, who played a more important role in containing the USSR. By the end of the Cold War, the US intervention was weakened for the second time.In the beginning of the New Millennium, taking chance of the September the 11th, a new wave of US intervention led by the military operation is observed in Southeast Asia. While consolidating the existing regional alliance system, the US also emphasis the Non US leading regional multilateral security mechanism and broadened its horizon from conventional security issues towards unconventional field such as anti-terrorism, anti-piracy, besides, the use of"smart power"and the reinforcement of west-pacific military deployment are also stressed. The eastward swift of US strategic focus, the increasing role of ASEAN and the rise of China are three key elements that made the East Asian Security pattern more complex and will greatly affect the global economic, political and military structure.Although the magnitude of US intervention into Southeast Asia showed a fluctuated trend, it is clear that the geo-strategic thinking, the containing purpose and the safeguard of hegemony and national interests are the main concerns. In the context of US strategic return in Southeast Asia, China should insist in its peaceful development pathway and continue to pursue an independent foreign policy, strive to maintain global, regional and national security. In terms of Sino-US relations, it is crucial to strengthen the strategic cooperation on one hand and to conduct rational and restricted struggle on another. Meanwhile, extended cooperation should be conducted with ASEAN in order to foster mutual understanding and enhance the mutual confidence. Last but not least, redouble efforts should be made to improve national defense and military and to expand and deepen the preparation for potential conflicts in order to create a harmonious external environment.