America's Withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership: A Strategic Misstep?
Abstract
Over the years, by sacrificing some of its ideological purity, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has gained access to vital international markets to propel a national rejuvenation in China, lifting the nation and its people out of maligned Century of Humiliation. Economic preponderance has expanded the international power of the CCP, increasing the influence they now wield today in an aggressive pursuit of the party's strategic ambitions. On their path to achieve global preeminence, the CCP has undertaken unprecedented military modernization to underpin its more assertive foreign policy. Together, these factors complicate the delicate balance of power in Asia's multipolar neighborhood, increasing the risk of instability. At the same time, the CCP is challenging US leadership of the international order, drawing US-Sino relations into adversarial territory. This paper examines the US efforts to find balance and compete with China through its years-long design and negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). US policymakers and their partners intended the TPP to be a balancing force in Asia, but in 2017, the U.S. abandoned the deal. A detailed analysis then examines the strategic consequences of the U.S. withdrawal in terms of US credibility, economic advantage, and diplomatic influence. It urges policymakers to find an alternative that will offer a second chance for the US to integrate with Asia and provide a better (more competitive) platform, vice confrontational options, to safeguard vital security interests.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 28, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1154004
Entities
People
- Dax Moss
Organizations
- National Defense University