The EAS: The Continuing Influence of the ‘Offshore Balancer’

For years, the term “China’s rise” has provided a useful shorthand for conveying
the arc of China’s recent history: its ascent from poor and powerless victim to
wealthy, formidable, and proud global power; from bit player on the world stage
to one of the more prominent lead actors.

Whatever the history and politics of the term, the fact is that it no longer captures
or conveys the reality of China today. To put it bluntly, China is no longer rising –
it has risen. 

(According to Henderson & Nadvi 2011)

The "RISE OF CHINA' has given the EAST ASIAN SOCIETY a prominence that is both unexpected and
unjustified, as it has become a strategic player and source of concern for the united states.

(According to Le Mière 2013)

The US shifted its focus to the most economically dynamic & strategically significant region in the
world in the mids-2000’s reflecting both regional & American priorities.

(According to Campbell of 2016)

The first was replaced by ‘rebalance’ to rmphasize the United States desires to develop new
connection with the cast Asian Region.

(According to Gray and Navarro 2016)

Position that has repudiated by close advisers to the Trump administration.

(According to Perlez 2016)

America's re-engagement has been welcomed by East Asia's less powerful states, But Vietnam
increasingly wary of Chinese aggression.

(According to Layne 1997; Mearsheimer & Walth 2016)

"offshore balancer' The US was keen to demonstrate its willingness to fulfill its role as what has been
described as an offshore balance. (According to Moss 2016)

The recent Anti-American declarations of the Philippines unpredictable President Duterte

demonstrates this a complex proposition.

(According to Ikenberry 2004; Friedberg 2011)

America’s strategic presence in Asia is essential for stability.

(According to Mearsheimer 2010)

China’s rise threatens to undermine the established order potentially leading to catastrophic
consequences.

(According to Ferrier 2016)

Geopolitical resources have given new prominence to the UN, but it is unclear if this
will make it more effective in the event of a Trump administration's rejection of
multilateral approaches to foreign policy.

(According to Bisley 2012)

The expansion of the EAS looks set to undermine it in the same way that APEC's
continued membership expansion did, as it provides a vehicle for states to engage
with East Asia and potentially contain China's rise

The Rise of the Indo-Pacific

Originally a geographic concept that spans 2 regions stretching from the west coast of the United States
to the west coast of India.

It defines the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions as a single interconnected region, the Indo-Pacific. 

When was the term Indo-Pacific introduced?

For decades, the vast expanse of territory stretching from Australia to India was referred to in
Washington as "Asia-Pacific", although "Indo-Pacific" was commonly used among foreign policy experts,
mainly in India, Indonesia and Australia.

The term Indo-Pacific is used increasingly in the global strategic/geopolitical discourse. Indo-Pacific seeks
to create a connected multipolar region that must be governed by commonly agreed international
norms rates & practices.

INDO-PACIFIC

 Largest economies
 Biggest democracy
 Growing militaries
 Several nuclear states
 Great power rivalry
  Boundary disputes

(According to Beeson 2006)

There are several competing visions of the region; different memberships & goals of various
organizations & initiatives have emerged; there is sceptism about thhe effectiveness and influence
over the members.

(According to Sbragia 2008; Acharya 2012)

The emergence of the Indo-Pacific idea is boon for students of comparative regionalism.

(According to Yoshihara 2013)

The enormous geographical expanse that the Indo-Pacific represents makes it unworkable as the basis
for an effective strategic order.

(According to Philips 2016;White 2016)

Indo Pacific draws together South Asia, the Indian Ocean with East Asia and Western Pacific Ocean.

(According to Bisley 2016)

Focuses on maritime aspect of Asia.

(According to Ravenhill 2001)

Australia played a key role in creating regional identities and institutions, such as the ARF, which is the
regions most important security institution.

(According to Medcalf 2014)

Indo-Pacific is a maritime super region centered on South East Asia led by China & India.

(According Australian Government 2013, 2016)

Australia’s centrality in the indo Pacific gives prominence to its west coast & reinforces it status as an
Indian Ocean State. Australia’s primary defense interests are based on a stable Indo Pacific region and
rules based global order.

(According to Abe 2007)

Confluence of the ‘two seas’ Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe championed the idea of the ‘two
seas’ as a single strategic space.

The (According to Clinton 2010)

Under former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Indian Pacific was used when referring to the
region.

(According to Andrew Philips 2016)

Andrew Philips has developed a typology of different approaches to the 'Indo-Pacific idea arguing that
the connection between the Indian Ocean & the western Pacific is to tenors to justify a
reinterpretation.

(According to Brewster 2016; Parameswaran 2016)

Indo Pacific has been strategic & peopolitical, designed to extend US led primary and balance China’s
rise