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Trump’s ‘Asia pivot’ a well-timed move
United States President Donald Trump’s Dec. 31, 2018 signing of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) is a robust statement of America’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific and should be applauded.
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US President Donald Trump. (AFP/CARLOS BARRIA / POOL )
U
nited States President Donald Trump’s Dec. 31, 2018 signing of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) is a robust statement of America’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific and should be applauded. It is also well-timed amid the various challenges and opportunities that Asia provides to the US.
Detractors of the new law may think it is alarmist, antagonistic towards China, ill-conceived, unnecessary or simply too little, too late. As an earnest follow up to former president Barack Obama’s “Asia pivot”, ARIA provides a solid platform for America’s renewed commitment to Asia.
Thus, America’s engagement of the Indo-Pacific has more focus and resources. The new legislation also makes for a long overdue commitment to strategic thinking about the region.
The law is a principled diplomatic and security plan that opposes Chinese domination of the Asia-Pacific, a region referred to as the “Indo-Pacific” by policymakers in Washington. ARIA mandates the President “to develop a long-term strategic vision and a comprehensive, multifaceted and principled United States policy for the Indo-Pacific region [...]”.
