Research Summaries

Back Securing Access to Sustain Presence and Overcome Chinese Influence in the Indo-Pacific

Fiscal Year 2022
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department Naval Research Program
Investigator(s) 0
Malley, Michael S.
Ketponglard, Christopher
Sponsor NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary Chinese control over ports in the Indo-Pacific region is increasingly viewed by the United States and its partners as a threat to their security interests. More specifically, analysts are inclined to see the Belt and Road Initiative as a vehicle for extending Chinese military influence. Until recently, it was difficult for the United States, let alone the U.S. Navy on its own, to compete directly with Chinese efforts to acquire access to ports and logistics facilities in the Indo-Pacific. Traditional tools of security cooperation and assistance were not designed to meet the type of challenge the BRI presents. However, in 2019 the United States established the Development Finance Corporation and joined with Australia and Japan to create the Blue Dot Network. These initiatives provide resources and official support for infrastructure development in lower income countries. This study aims to identify where, when, and how U.S. naval diplomacy can leverage these new initiatives to counter Chinese access and logistics facilities in the Indo-Pacific while enhancing USN access and logistics there.
Keywords Access Building Partner Capacity (BPC) Indo-Pacific Naval Diplomacy Security cooperation future basing
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal