Dance of the Giants

The US president’s whirlwind East Asia tour spotlighted the intensifying rivalry between the US and China. While the US spent the last decade preoccupied with radical Islam, China quietly went about furthering its strategic interests in Southeast Asia. The US now finds itself playing catch-up in the region, attempting to make up for lost time through actions such as placing troops in Australia, extending overtures to Burma and pushing for a transpacific free-trade zone. Some Chinese analysts are wary about a containment strategy while others describe the moves as engagement and hedging. Southeast Asia stands as a “potential crucible for future confrontations” between the two largest players today on the world stage. As China’s neighbors seek balanced power for their region, though, the two giants have come to realize that charm works better than belligerence. – YaleGlobal