United States of America's Foreign Policy in the Security of Asia-Pacific Region

This paper will examine the determining factors through the questions posited in the course outline regarding a gradual change of focus of U.S. foreign policy from terrorism to citing fomenting predictions and future tenses that China would be a 'threat' in the Asia-Pacific region as well to the world. Utilizing 'Hedging,' one of foreign policy's options, as the tool or instrument to achieve its purpose, carry-out goals, and implement policies. In 2000, Pres. George W. Bush labeled China as the United States' leading strategic and military competitor. (Twining 2007) In his rhetoric, what changes in U.S. strategic and defense relationships in the Asia-Pacific region, if any, are needed to respond to major developments in the region, particularly China's emergence as a major power, the continuing potential for inter-state conflict, and the struggle against militant Islamists? (Vaughn 2007)