ABSTRACT
In recent years, the U.S. foreign policy focus has gradually shifted eastward, and its foreign policy toward East Asia has received attention. Through an integrated discussion of U.S. foreign policy in East Asia, we analyze the logic behind U.S. practical interactions with East Asian countries and regions during the Trump and Biden eras. The U.S. foreign policy in East Asia emphasizes consensus building and promotes “values diplomacy,” and due to its relatively weakened power, it intends to build friendly alliances in East Asia based on its own interests to create opportunities for rationalizing U.S. involvement in East Asian affairs in order to prevent being marginalized. The motivation for this behavior is likely to be the U.S. habit and expertise in subjective identity shaping of countries and regions, as well as the intention to anticipate the behavior of others, and the interplay of the changing power structure in East Asia and the high level of U.S. attention. China is sticking to the bottom line in this regard, responding flexibly in its policies, maintaining a good image as a great power, and actively achieving friendly interactions with neighboring countries in a bid to develop peaceful Sino-U.S. relations.
