15/02/2019

The USA in East Asia

After World War II, the United States of America had three main tasks to accomplish.

These included, first to recreate the conditions that would over time lead to the reconstruction of

an open world economic system. Second to limit and defeat the ambitions of those who after 1945

were pressing to push the world in a radically different direction to that favored by America and

its market allies. Finally, the third task was to incorporate old enemy states like Germany and

Japan into an American-led international order. One of the greatest transformations of the modern

era was how one of the most devastated and disturbed regions in the world, Asia, turned into one

of the most stable and prosperous regions, thriving in many aspects. Yet this great transformation

did not simply happen overnight, like most big changes it was slow and easy coming.

Having ‘lost’ China, the United States came to Mao’s form of Marxism-Leninism as

being especially threatening. Within the relations, there was a great strategic change. Yet, finally,

there was the very real long-term problem of the impact that China’s speedy rise would have on

America’s position within the international system.

The Non-Proliferation treaty with the threat of North Korea is of key importance,

especially with the United States getting very serious about militarism. They saw a great chance

of solving problems by acting with others, negotiating and communicating. East Asia has turned

into one of the most economically dynamic economies in the world. Japan especially plays a very

key role in this region. The common question now is to think if the United States is still

indispensable. Even though the United States has been experiencing a decline, especially within

the hegemonic framework, this does not eliminate its importance in the region nowadays.