Congress, Domestic Politics and Contemporary US Policy in the Indo-Pacific

Abstract

After briefly assessing the historical roots of contemporary US policy in the Indo-Pacific region, this chapter examines in detail the evolution of US policy in the region during the Trump administration and into the Biden administration. Special attention is devoted to explaining the role of the US Congress, media, public opinion and other elements of US domestic politics as driving forces or important determinants in the sharp negative US government turn against Chinese government practices seen challenging fundamental interests of the United States. The Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy viewed Beijing as resolved to rise as a great power by using political, economic and military practices often egregiously out of line with existing international norms to undermine the United States, thereby posing the most serious national security threat since the start of the Cold War. The Biden administration sustained and sometimes advanced existing US government strictures involving trade, human rights, and other disputes with China. President Biden moved well beyond his earlier ambiguity as to the priority of the Chinese threat to the United States, advising that the main inflection point facing America is the fourth industrial revolution with China confident that its authoritarian system will overtake America. Administration and Congressional efforts targeting China enjoyed continued strong bipartisan support in Washington, mainstream media and public opinion. With China determined to grow its international power and advance in line with Chinese practices despite US opposition, the concluding forecast is growing regional tension driven by strong Sino–American strategic rivalry.