By: Aaron Mehta
SIMI VALLEY, California – As the US continues to rebalance its military focus to the Asia-Pacific, some have speculated that a NATO-like institution in the region might be needed to counteract the expansion of Chinese power.
But Adm. Harry Harris, the head of US Pacific Command, doesn’t see that as a feasible solution – and a top Pacific defense ally agrees it would not be a tenable one.
“I do not believe we’re ever going to see a NATO in Asia,” Harris said in response to a question at the Reagan National Defense Forum Dec. 3.
Harris laid out his reasoning in simple terms: NATO was formed when there was a clear, concise enemy in the Soviet Union, and countries were lined up in support or opposition of Moscow. And despite much of the rhetoric about China that was heard at the forum, other nations in the Pacific have a much more complex relationship with their neighbor.
“In Asia, there’s not that compelling, single, focused enemy, if you will. China is part of Asia, they are part of our economic life in America and all that, so we’re not going to see in my opinion a NATO in Asia.”
Instead, Harris said, the Pentagon is focused on developing multi-lateral security networks in the region. As examples, he pointed to both the growing trilateral military cooperation between the US, Japan and South Korea, as well as counterterrorism activities among countries in Southeast Asia.
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