Inhan, Kim

Abstract
For the past two years, the Asia-Pacific seems to have returned to the back seat in
U.S. foreign policy priorities because of crises in Europe and the Middle East, and
Washington’s own fiscal problems. Given both global and domestic developments,
it is a legitimate question to ask whether the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific is still
valid. This paper asserts, “Yes, it is.” Washington has made steady progress across
military, diplomatic, and economic realms of the rebalancing. It has strengthened
and expanded military ties with regional states and prepared for its naval forces to
operate more intensively. It has become a member of major multilateral institutions
and expanded support for appropriate organizations. And it is striving to complete
the most important trade deal in a generation, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Despite
budget pressures, the Obama administration has kept the Asia-Pacific high on its
foreign policy agenda, and the rebalance has enjoyed bipartisan support. While
the high-profile rebalancing moves have been relatively modest so far, the Obama
administration’s achievements should not be understated. More balancing effort
is certain to come.
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