The Biden administration is laying the groundwork for a new U.S. approach to its Asia-Pacific network of alliances, according to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel—with a little inadvertent help from China.
"I think we're transforming our relationship in the region from a 'hub and spokes' to this 'latticework' system, he said in an interview released Tuesday by the ChinaTalk podcast.
On April 10, President Joe Biden will for the first time bring together the heads of state of Japan and the Philippines for a trilateral summit.
Tokyo and Manila, both U.S. defense treaty allies with simmering territorial disputes with Beijing, have been bolstering defense ties with Washington and with each other in the form of security aid packages, joint naval drills and proposed military exchanges.
The U.S. has been building out its "latticework" security architecture elsewhere in the region. It has elevated its relationship with Vietnam, engaged more closely with India, breathed new life into the Quad group (comprising Australia, India, Japan and the U.S.) and taken steps to arm Australia with nuclear submarines via the Aukus partnership between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.
One thing many of the countries being engaged with have in common is a grievance against Beijing.
"This latticework architecture: It's a vision, it's a set of ideas, and it's been with a perseverance and determination led by the president in direct response to China's mistakes and in their own neighborhood, in their own backyard," Emanuel said.
He added that Beijing is operating under the logic that, as a superpower, it is entitled to its own sphere of influence, but "in their own backyard their sphere of influence is limited by their mistakes, and we're taking advantage of it."
Newsweek reached out by email to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment.
"China has a basic premise that they are the rising power, we're a declining power, and either you get in line or you're going to get the Philippines treatment," Emanuel said.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos reversed his predecessor's course and began a public pushback against Beijing's expansion into the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. China has responded forcefully, with Manila reporting several injuries from last month's confrontations over Philippine supply runs to a remote outpost.
"Our message is that we are a permanent Pacific power and presence and you can bet long on us," Emanuel said. "And I think when you look back at the two of those, we have made more of a down payment and are in a stronger position on our basic premise than they are."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ... Read more
