Naval Strategy in the Western Pacific: The Role of Taiwan and other U.S. Partners in Securing the Peace

Discussions of Western Pacific naval strategy are generally approached from a technological and doctrinal perspective, with the most important questions revolving around a potential duel between "anti-access/area-denial" tools and efforts to counter them and retain freedom of maneuver in the region. This panel, however, looked at the broader political and strategic picture as it involves U.S. friends and allies in the region.

How do such states including Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea fit into the bigger picture of naval strategy, not only in the event of conflicts, but particularly with regard to deterrence of war through collective coordination? What is being done to improve cooperation among countries in the region that feel increasing security threats? What more can be done in the realm of naval strategy, planning, defense trade, and political-military cooperation in order to improve regional security and to protect the open, liberal politico-economic order that has benefited the countries in the region for so long?