Hedging in the ASEAN Region: The Case of Singapore and Indonesia
Abstract
The United States, especially the military, relies upon a network of allies and partners to project power and facilitate strength in the region. China's rise as a dominant power, which causes uncertainty in the regional power structure, has resulted in states hedging their interests until this competition dynamic is resolved. Hedging is damaging to the U.S. because a central strategy in its security and foreign policy are alliances. This is not so for China. The U.S. must adjust its strategy and policy to counter the Pacific Region counties' hedging practices, or it risks being denied access and influence because countries will avoid the alignment, which could damage their relationship with China. The U.S. must align foreign policy to meet ASEAN countries' interests and pursue win-win strategies for all parties. It must stay consistently engaged in ASEAN and provide support for this multilateral system. Finally, the U.S. must prove to ASEAN that it is committed to the region with policy that can survive presidential administrations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1178074
Entities
People
- Benjamin C. Leatherbury
Organizations
- Marine Corps University