June 13, 2016

Security Cooperation: The Key to Access and Influence in the Asia-Pacific

In this paper, BowerGroupAsia Senior Director Desmond Walton examines the increasing value returned by the development of strategic networks of regional military relationships by the United States and China in the Asia-Pacific. After defining security cooperation and enumerating the advantages in such interactions both for the United States and our regional partners, Walton observes the three tiers of the ‘access equation’ and highlights the necessity of a continued security commitment to the region. As a case study, Walton points to Secretary Carter’s Maritime Security Initiative as a likely success in interagency cooperation that signals continued commitment to the region while simultaneously providing tangible benefits in partner capabilities.

The report is available online.

Download PDF

Author

  • Des Walton

  • Reports
    • May 21, 2025
    Regional and Global Responses to a Taiwan Contingency

    A contingency across the Taiwan Strait has the potential to reshape the Indo-Pacific and even global security environment. This report explores how states beyond the United St...

    By Jacob Stokes, Kareen Hart, Ryan Claffey & Thomas Corel

  • Video
    • May 17, 2025
    What Is Voice of America and Why Trump Is Dismantling the Broadcaster

    For the better part of a century, Voice of America has broadcast into countries whose governments censored free information. The Trump administration has dismantled VOA's pare...

    By Lisa Curtis

  • Reports
    • May 15, 2025
    Democracy in South Asia amid U.S. Aid Cuts

    The practice of democratic governance and the increased number of people across the world participating in national elections are positive trends that will help ensure governm...

    By Lisa Curtis, Kareen Hart & Keerthi Martyn

  • Podcast
    • May 15, 2025
    Lessons from the U.S.-China Trade War

    America and China have agreed to a 90-day truce of their month-long trade war, but the economic uncertainty has not yet ended. Beyond tariffs, the spat had begun spilling over...

    By Edward Fishman

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia