Research On The Transformation Of American Indo-Pacific Alliance System From The Perspective Of “Balance Of Threat-Alliance Network”

With the current international power comparison rising to the east and falling to the west,the speed of power transformation is gradually accelerating,and the Indo-Pacific region has become the focus of competition between the established powers and the emerging powers.In recent years,the United States has vigorously promoted the transformation of the Asia-Pacific “hub-and-spokes” alliance system led by it to the Indo-Pacific networking alliance system.Starting from the above,the core question of this paper is: What is the dynamic explanation of the transformation of the United States’ networking alliance in Indo-Pacific region? To answer this core question,we need to straighten out the following branch questions.First,what is the internal relationship and difference between the current networking alliance(trend)in the Indo-Pacific region and the alliance in the previous “hub and spokes” system?Secondly,what are the basic forms and structural characteristics of the networking alliance system implemented by the United States in the Indo-Pacific region? Third,what impact will the actions of the United States and its allies and partners have on regional and international order? Fourthly,how can China,as a rising country,effectively deal with the networking alliance behavior of the United States? The study of the above-mentioned issues will not only help to sufficiently understand the alliance situation of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region,but also clarify the adjustment and trend of the U.S.Indo-Pacific strategy and global strategy,and grasp the essence of alliance politics.It is also conducive to enhancing the urgency and source of China’s response to American league’s behavior,and provides theoretical and policy references for China to safeguard its maritime rights and interests,build a partnership network,cope with American competition,and maintain its diplomatic independence in the Indo-Pacific region.Through the comprehensive application of deductive reasoning,scientific induction and qualitative analysis,it is found that the“balance of threat-alliance networking” theory formed on the basis of the “balance of threat” alliance theory and the “social network” theory can effectively explain the power of the United States to promote the transformation of the Indo-Pacific alliance system.The “hub and spokes” alliance system can hardly support the strategic deployment of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region due to its balance of threat,ability aggregation and political friendship,while the alliance networking reflects the basic orientation of the geopolitical structure of the Indo-Pacific region in the future.The United States and its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region promoted the transformation of its Indo-Pacific alliance into a networking from the fundamental consideration of balancing traditional security threats and non-traditional security threats,and carried out integrated deterrence and limited hard balancing in the military field;Maintain a leading position in the economic and trade field and hedge“the belt and road initiative”;In the field of science and technology,adopt the strategy of small courtyard and high wall and anti — access and area denial;Limited cooperation in the environmental field and shirking responsibility;A series of complex measures have been taken in the fields of networking security and intelligence,such as small multilateralism and clubbing strategy,to jointly promote the transformation of alliance system,which has five characteristics: balance of threat,cluster effect,multiple agendas,node defense and regional linkage.In the future,the United States will continue to promote the networking transformation of the alliance system,but it is faced with its own internal and external difficulties,Doubts of American allies and partners about regional cooperation mechanism,and multiple considerations of countries in the Indo-Pacific region.As a result,the networking alliance system of Indo-Pacific led by the United States is very difficult to build into an “Indo-Pacific version of NATO” against China.This trend will have a lasting impact on regional countries,Indo-Pacific configuration and international order.China can deal with it calmly by accurately grasping the nature and direction of the development of Sino-US relations,encouraging the practice of true multilateralism,skillfully using wedge strategy and making good use of flexible competition strategy.According to the pessimistic outlook of realism,it can’t be ruled out that the networking alliance system between Indo-Pacific region promoted by the United States will become the NATO militarized alliance system to contain the Soviet Union during the Cold War.However,it must be clear that if an alliance is formed in the Indo-Pacific region,it must be aimed at specific threats related to the future and destiny of mankind,rather than at containing specific countries.The United States,Australia,Japan and other allies and partners must learn from historical experience to prevent the narrative of “containment” from dominating.