ABSTRACT
The United States as a regional naval balancer has reduced its direct maritime presence in the Asia-Pacific region with the closing of its naval base in Subic Bay and a reduction of force numbers in South Korea and Japan. In February 1995 the White House released A National Security Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement,1 promoting co-operative security measures. Co-operative engagement is planned to cover the spectrum of requirements needed for peacetime operations. In February 1995 the US Department of Defense also released its Security Strategy for the East Asia-Pacific Region,2 showing that America's status in the Asia-Pacific region has shifted from the Pax Americana to a Pax Consortis which envisages burden-sharing with its allies. The US Navy is still required to undertake active operations in support of American strong and valid strategic and political goals in the East Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, repeated reductions in its forces are being made as the defence budget declines. In contrast to the Cold War, when the US Navy's role was directly related to addressing Soviet threats, it now has a much broader role. This includes responding to regional disputes and conflicts, sometimes multilaterally. The US attitude towards co-operative maritime security has been changing with her new strategy and policies in the region. On 19 January 1998 Washington signed with Beijing a Maritime Consultative Agreement, aimed at preventing incidents at sea.
