ABSTRACT
In January 2012 the US Department of Defense announced a major adjustment in its strategic focus vis-à-vis the Asia-Pacific region. According to the new plan, the US military, while continuing to contribute to security globally, would ‘of necessity rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region’. The Pentagon further stated that US ‘relationships with Asian allies and key partners are critical to the future stability and growth of the region’ (US Department of Defense 2012: 2). Overall, the new ‘rebalance strategy’, sometimes referred to as the ‘pivot’, reflected a strong desire by the administration of President Barack Obama to transition US power from conflicts in the Middle East and South Asia towards East Asia, a region widely viewed as increasingly central to the global economy.
