The Role of Southeast Asia in U.S. Strategy Toward China

by Sokolsky, Richard; Rabasa, Angel; Neu, C. R.

• ISBN13: 9780833028938
• ISBN10: 0833028936
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-12-19
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

China's geopolitical ambitions and growing military capabilities and Southeast Asia's perceptions of a rising China will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Southeast Asia and the U.S. military posture in the region. Examining the role of regio

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	vii
Tables	ix
Summary	xi
Acknowledgments	xvii
Introduction	1	(4)
U.S. Objectives and Interests in Southeast Asia	5	(10)
Economic Stakes	5	(5)
Sea-Lanes	10	(5)
China's Potential Military Threat to Southeast Asia	15	(14)
Conventional Military Threats	15	(9)
Threats to the Southeast Asian SLOCs	16	(3)
Conflict over territorial Claims to the Spratly Islands	19	(5)
Ambiguous Threats	24	(1)
Impact of Economic Futures	25	(2)
Conclusions	27	(2)
Asean Perceptions of a Rising China	29	(14)
Singapore	31	(2)
Philippines	33	(2)
Thailand	35	(1)
Malaysia	36	(2)
Indonesia	38	(2)
Vietnam	40	(3)
Asean Defense Policies and Expenditures	43	(14)
Singapore	48	(1)
Philippines	49	(1)
Thailand	50	(1)
Malaysia	51	(1)
Indonesia	52	(1)
Vietnam	53	(1)
The Sino-ASEAN Power Imbalance	53	(4)
Regional Approaches to Security Cooperation	57	(6)
The Balancing Role of the United States and the Taiwan Question	63	(4)
Implications for U.S. Strategy and Defense Planning	67	(14)
Appendix: Illustrative Asian Economic Scenarios	81	(4)
Selected Bibliography	85