American Indo-Pacific Strategy Studies

Since the second decade of the 21st century,the rapid rise of China,the transformation of the international system,and the change of the U.S.security concept made the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas more important in the U.S.global strategy.Aimed at maintaining its superpower and leadership,the U.S.seeked to create a so-called "free and open " Indo-Pacific region.The "Indo-Pacific Strategy" of The "Indo-Pacific Strategy" was the development and extension of the "Return to Asia-Pacific" and "Asia-Pacific Rebalancing" strategies during the Obama administration.The Obama administration had conceived a concept to shift from the"Asia-Pacific" to the "Indo-Pacific",but it failed to issue clear substantial document on the "Indo-Pacific Strategy".Such concept was merely emphasized at the policy.Against the backdrop of the rising of China and the decline of U.S.hegemony,the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" formally proposed to serve the global strategic goals of the U.S.,the Trump administration turned it from a concept into an initiative,and finally developed it into a clear foreign strategy,which involved such targets as revitalization of its economic strength,promotion of its trade,enhancement of alliance cooperation,elimination of nuclear threats,aggressive intervention in regional security,and restriction and curb of China’s development.Meanwhile,as India was more competitive in the Indian Ocean area,the U.S intended to ally and control India so as to gain strategic freedom and expand arms exports.Compared with the"Asia-Pacific Rebalancing" strategy of the Obama administration,"Indo-Pacific Strategy" has greater scope,influence and strength.There is the reason why The Biden administration continued to resort to the framework and strategic thinking of "Indo-Pacific strategy" Trump administration had adopted was that the U.S.believed that the Indo-Pacific region was closely related to the interests of the U.S.Whether U.S.could stabilize its influence in the Indo-Pacific region determined its strategic position in the world.In its Indo-Pacific strategic concept,it coped with so called threats the U.S.was faced with in the region such as China’s rise,climate change,the COVID-19 pandemic and North Korea’s nuclear program by alliances.Recognizing the importance of diplomacy and partnership,the Biden administration proposed to strengthen the quadrilateral security dialogue mechanism for stronger alliances with Japan and South Korea,promote cooperation with India,and expand cooperation with ASEAN.By issuing the latest document US Indo-Pacific Strategy,the Biden administration made it clear that it maintained a basic identity with the strategy of the two former administrations to show strong continuity,while it presented some distinctive characteristics taking the times and geopolitical considerations into account.On the one hand,the U.S."Indo-Pacific Strategy" undermines stability of Indo-Pacific region and neighboring countries of China,which subjects these countries to the diplomatic dilemma.On the other hand,the U.S."Indo-Pacific Strategy" cannot be immune to the interaction of its political and economic factors,diplomatic strategy and China’s influence.In the future,the U.S.will continue its"Indo-Pacific Strategy" in the disguise of creating a free,open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,so as to strengthen the "U.S.-Japan-India-Australia Quadrilateral Security Dialogue",expand its geographical sphere of influence,and consolidate its status as a world hegemony.