Chapter I Defense Strategy
In 2015, the US released National Security Strategy, National Military Strategy and The Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy, outlining strategic guidance on building, developing and employing military forces under new circumstances, deterring traditional and non-traditional security threats, maintaining dominance in the Asia-Pacific region and global leadership.
A. Releasing National Security Strategy and elaborating the US global strategy
In February 2015, the Obama administration released its second National Security Strategy since in office. The document reaffirms the US enduring national interests, discusses the changes in international power structure, addresses the major security challenges and top strategic risks, prioritizes the importance of achieving US economic recovery and maintaining the international economic order, reasserts the US values and highlights the necessity of reshaping the international system. The document suggests that the Obama administration will adhere to the principle of strategic patience, shared responsibility and selective use of force. Furthermore, it reveals the US determination and approaches to maintain its hegemony across the globe. For the parts related to China, the US is consistent with its China policy, and expresses new strategic concerns, which reflects its ambivalent mentality to China’s rise.
a. The Framework of National Security Strategy
National Security Strategy 2015 consists of four parts：security, prosperity, values and international order. Each part respectively corresponds to the four US enduring national interests, namely, the US must ensure security and that of its allies and partners; the US economy shall seizeopportunities in the international economic system and achieve prosperity; the US values are well-respected at home and abroad; the US will lead in advancing the rule-based international order. Besides the four parts, the document also includes President Obama’s Preface, Introduction and Conclusion. Generally, the document analyses the current security environment, reiterates the US enduring interests and outlines the policies and paths to fulfill its national interests.
b. The Core Content of National Security Strategy
National Security Strategy 2015 is a strategic guiding principle for the US to preserve its global leadership under new circumstances.
First of all, the document concedes the US inadequacy in coping with challenges. It emphasizes that the US will be selective when intervening in international affairs in order to avoid overstretch, which reflects President Obama’s idea of maintaining priority and keeping strategic patience.
Secondly, the document reaffirms that there is no substitute for the US leadership. It also lists the strategic elements contributing to the US global dominance, which demonstrates the US determination and approaches to keep hegemony.
Thirdly, the necessity of collective action is highlighted, thus implying that the Obama administration will be continuously committed to responsibility sharing. President Obama states, “While we will act unilaterally against threats to our core interests, we are stronger when we mobilize collective action.” Hence, the US prioritizes collective action with its allies and partners when confronted with acute challenges like combating terrorism, defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant （ISIL）, and stopping the spread of the Ebola virus. The US will “continue to modernize these essential bilateral alliances while enhancing the security ties among our allies”.
Such multilateral alliances will probably become part of the US advancing its Asia-Pacific strategy. In addition, the document also emphasizes building capacities in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, when coping with security challenges. “In addition to acting decisively to defeat direct threats, we will focus on building the capacity of others to prevent the causes and consequences of conflict to include countering extreme and dangerous ideologies.”
Fourthly, cautious use of force is still a major principle of the US foreign policy.President Obama proudly points out in the Preface that he responsibly ended two lasting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Moreover, he addresses, “We must recognize that a smart national security strategy does not rely solely on military power.” Being cautious in the use of force does not necessarily mean that the US will give it up entirely. Instead, it implies smart use, “we will be principled and selective in the use of force. The use of force should not be our first choice, but it will sometimes be the necessary choice.” President Obama’s statement reveals at least five implications. To begin with, use of military force is one of the options when defending the US interests, which in fact takes advantage of force’s functions, namely, deterrence and strike. Second, it identifies several conditions of unilateral use of force. For instance, the US homeland and its citizens are faced with direct threats and the security of US allies is in danger. “The United States will use military force, unilaterally if necessary, when our enduring interests demand it：when our people are threatened; when our livelihoods are at stake; and when the security of our allies is in danger.” Thirdly, it restricts the use of force by listing specific cases, such as clear strategic objectives, righteous reasons and equality. “In all cases, the decision to use force must reflect a clear mandate and feasible objectives, and we must ensure our actions are effective, just, and consistent with the rule of law.” Fourthly, in the use of military forces, the US will avoid dispatching ground forces as much as possible and adopt the way of special operation forces, such as employing armed unmanned aerial vehicles （UAVs）. Fifthly, the US will combine the use of force with elimination of roots of threats in order to achieve its goals.
Fifthly, the new strategy is based on current situation and oriented towards the future, reflecting President Obama’s ambition to shape his political heritage. The Obama’s administration maintains that the US National Security Strategy should take account of both current challenges and future risks. By doing so, it will not be confused by today’s problems and consequently fail to focus on opportunities and challenges in the long term. Therefore, although President Obama lists Russia’s “invasion” and ISIS’s expansion as the threats to US security, he believes that some long-term challenges, such as climate change and global public health security, should be paid more attention to. President Obama addresses in the Preface that “The challenges we face require strategic patience and persistence.” “This is an ambitious agenda, and not everything will be completed during my Presidency.”
Sixthly, the document outlines an initiative, consistent and extensive US international strategy. Facing the complicated international circumstances involving challenges and risks, the US is designing and reshaping its foreign strategy in accordance with its set guideline, which exhibits the Obama administration’s determination to advance its affirmative international strategy.
“We are not allowing the transgressors to define our regional strategies on the basis of the immediate threats they present.”
c. The Content related to China in National Security Strategy
In National Security Strategy 2015, China is referred to for ten times. Besides President Obama’s Preface, China mainly appears in the two parts “Security” and “International Order”, which probably reveals US strategic focus on China：Will China and the US lead to strategic conflicts in the future？ What policy will China adopt to deal with disputed territory issues with its neighboring countries？ Will China’s rise be in the framework of current international system or otherwise？Compared with its 2010 version, the new document mentions China with the same frequency, adopts a consistent China policy, and demonstrates the US ambivalent attitudes.
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