The United States and East Asia: How the Taiwan Strait and China Affect U.S. Security Strategy

Abstract

Despite the global war on terrorism, Asia remains the most volatile area in the world.¹ The possibility that North Korea could attack the South makes Asia volatile, as well as the possibility of a coup or economic collapse in North Korea. These issues keep defense planners thinking about contingencies in Northeast Asia. Of course, there are other serious concerns for the United States and its allies in the region, particularly Japan. The potential for war is high if China decides to make good its threats against Taiwan and attack that island. Beijing has made it clear that if Taiwan steps over some undefined line that Beijing interprets as moving too close to independence, China will use force. Such an eventuality would clearly bring a U.S. response, and because of American deployments in Asia, that response would probably involve Japan.