ABSTRACT
This chapter talks about American hegemony in Asia, therefore, is highly likely to be marred by misunderstanding from the start. It discusses the Asian security architecture that underpins American hegemonic stability in that part of the world. The chapter describes the implications of the rise of China, the actor most likely to drive an eventual hegemonic transition. It also looks at the 'Achilles' heel of American hegemony in Asia, by briefly reviewing the strains of its security alliances. The concept of Asia itself represents something of an artificial construct that is just too vast and too complex to be compared to Europe or even the broader North Atlantic security community. Asia is far too diverse to compare to any other regional entity and the idea of an overarching security structure encompassing its dazzling diversity is problematic. The area falling under the responsibilities of the US forces Pacific Command conveys the magnitude of the challenges faced by American hegemony.
