China and Pacific Command: The Course of Hegemony in the Indo-Pacific Region

Abstract

Today, Japan, the United States, Australia, India, and so others pay attention to the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific. The Pacific Command (PACOM) is facing three major issues in the region. One is the threat of the nuclear missiles of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and the other is terrorism by extremist groups in Southeast Asia and in the Philippines in particular. Beyond this, looking at the situation from a long-term perspective, the largest issue is the emergence of a strong China. PACOM has been shouldering the responsibility of protecting the national interests of the United States in the region. Furthermore, it is PACOM that has been maintaining the international order in Asia that the United States built after World War II, an order that has been supporting prosperity and security in the region. This chapter first reflects on the roles that PACOM has fulfilled in the history of relations between the United States and China after World War II. Then, it analyzes how PACOM is making an effort to stand up to the challenges being posed by China. Finally, this chapter presents a future outlook on this situation.