Over the past two decades, the United States attempted to maintain its post-Second World War role as the predominant force securing stability and prosperity for all nations in the Indo-Pacific. Doing so required continual adaptation to China’s rising influence, military capability, and assertiveness against its neighbors. However, most adjustments to counter Chinese adversarial actions were reactive, a continuity across presidential administrations. Most policy analysts and academics argue that previous U.S. approaches focused more on countering emerging threats than articulating a compelling alternative vision for regional order. The United States and its allies and partners largely focused on the status quo, using the benefits many nations saw from American hegemony as the reason it should continue. However, this current vision—one of status quo and an ideal approach already achieved—fails to speak to many in the region, and the world, who feel left out of the present regional and international order.  

 

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