Maritime Strategy and Alliance Policy in East Asia

In: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/57956

Abstract

Three interrelated studies addressed the challenges facing the USN and its allies in Asia. (Two studies were dropped given labor and financial constraints.) The aim of the first study is to evaluate Chinese views of maritime strategy to evaluate possible areas for cooperation, deterrence enhancement, and risk mitigation. A second focuses on China's expanding counterspace capabilities that threaten U.S. naval strategy Asia. Analyzing the emerging threat environment, thinking through specific counter-measures, and developing allied strategies with East Asian military partners could strengthen deterrence, reduce vulnerabilities, and ensure operational effectiveness. A final study looks at the dilemma of strengthening US-ROK deterrence while minimizing risks of conflict escalation in the maritime realm. The context for this includes recent NK provocations, changes in ROK declaratory deterrence policy, and renewed ROK interest in tactical nuclear weapons ; Naval Research Program ; Prepared for: N5, C7F CAPT David Adams