Pivot to the Pacific? The Obama Administration's "Rebalancing" Toward Asia

In the fall of 2011, the Obama Administration issued a series of announcements indicating that the United States would be expanding and intensifying its already significant role in the Asia-Pacific, particularly in the southern part of the region. The fundamental goal underpinning the shift is to devote more effort to influencing the development of the Asia-Pacifics norms and rules, particularly as China emerges as an ever-more influential regional power. Given that one purpose of the pivot or rebalancing toward the Asia-Pacific is to deepen U.S. credibility in the region at a time of fiscal constraint, Congresss oversight and appropriations roles, as well as its approval authority over free trade agreements, will help determine to what extent the Administrations plans are implemented and how various trade-offs are managed. There are a number of risks to the pivot, however. In an era of constrained U.S. defense resources, an increased U.S. military emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region might result in a reduction in U.S. military capacity in other parts of the world. Another budgetary consideration is that plans to restructure U.S. military deployments in Asia and minimize cuts in the Navy may run up against more restrictive funding constraints than plans yet assume. Additionally, the perception among many that the rebalancing is targeted against China could strengthen the hand of Chinese hard-liners. Such an impression could also potentially make it more difficult for the United States to gain Chinas cooperation on a range of issues. Additionally, the prominence the Obama Administration has given to the initiative has raised the costs to the United States if it or successor administrations fail to follow through on public pledges made, particularly in the military realm.