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In 2015, Congress tasked the Department of Defense to commission an independent assessment of U.S. military strategy and force posture in the Asia-Pacific, as well as that of U.S. allies and partners, over the next decade. This CSIS study fulfills that congressional requirement. The authors assess U.S. progress to date and recommend initiatives necessary to protect U.S. interests in the Pacific Command area of responsibility through 2025. Four lines of effort are highlighted: (1) Washington needs to continue aligning Asia strategy within the U.S. government and with allies and partners; (2) U.S. leaders should accelerate efforts to strengthen ally and partner capability, capacity, resilience, and interoperability; (3) the United States should sustain and expand U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region; and (4) the United States should accelerate development of innovative capabilities and concepts for U.S. forces.

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Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific, China, Southeast Asia, Defense and Security, Defense Strategy and Capabilities, and Geopolitics and International Security
John Schaus

John Schaus

Former Senior Fellow, International Security Program
Ernest Z. Bower

Ernest Z. Bower

Former Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Southeast Asia Program
Victor Cha

Victor Cha

President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair
Heather A. Conley

Heather A. Conley

Former Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic; and Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

Ryan Crotty

Former Fellow, International Security Program
Melissa Dalton

Melissa Dalton

Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Defense Budget Analysis and Aerospace Security Project
Bonnie S. Glaser

Bonnie S. Glaser

Former Senior Adviser for Asia; Director, China Power Project
Rebecca Hersman

Rebecca Hersman

Former Director, Project on Nuclear Issues, and Senior Adviser, International Security Program
Murray Hiebert

Murray Hiebert

Senior Associate (Non-resident), Southeast Asia Program
Tom Karako

Tom Karako

Director, Missile Defense Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department

Stephanie Sanok Kostro

Gregory B. Poling

Gregory B. Poling

Director and Senior Fellow, Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Sharon Squassoni

Sharon Squassoni

Former Director and Senior Fellow, Proliferation Prevention Program
Nicholas Szechenyi

Nicholas Szechenyi

Vice President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Senior Fellow, Japan Chair
Denise E. Zheng

Denise E. Zheng

Former Senior Associate (Non-resident), Strategic Technologies Program

Zack Cooper

John Schaus

John Schaus

Former Senior Fellow, International Security Program

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