Why U.S. Strategy in Asia Must Be Built on Allies, Not Fear of China

Written by Anne T. Lord, Vandenberg Coalition | Published January 13, 2026

The Trump administration's new National Security Strategy makes clear that this administration views Asia through the lens of China and expects our regional allies and partners to do the same. With China's reach extending beyond the First Island Chain, the need to shore up these relationships through mutual cooperation is paramount. An Asia strategy built primarily on fear of China risks weakening the very alliances that underpin U.S. influence in the region.

Just recently, we saw reporting that the Chinese company working to rebuild an old Imperial Japanese runway on Woleai, Yap, and the Federated States of Micronesia, only around 500 miles from Guam, is nearing completion. The U.S. military is currently taking steps in the right direction by increasing information operations and humanitarian efforts and working jointly with allies. We should solidify these gains by building on these efforts rather than scaling them back.

Information is a central part of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) warfighting concept. The PLA uses information warfare by conducting cognitive domain operations to influence its adversaries through psychological and political warfare. The goal is to shape the opinions of our allies and partners in ways that prepare the battlefield in advance of conflict. Fortunately, the U.S. Army is taking concrete steps to counter these efforts.

Recently, the U.S. Army stood up a new unit with the purpose of "gain[ing] and maintain[ing] a strategic advantage through information dominance in the Indo-Pacific region by disrupting malign influence, increasing cooperation with key partners, and promoting regional stability through a shared commitment for a free and open Indo-Pacific." Concrete actions such as this send a clear signal to our allies and partners that we take Chinese efforts to influence and manipulate their populations seriously.

Combating aggression from our adversaries is not the only area in which we can demonstrate our efficacy as a partner. This fall, super typhoons raged through the Pacific, devastating the Philippines and leaving hundreds of people dead. The United States military wasted no time in demonstrating its commitment to our ally and launched disaster-relief operations at the request of the government of the Philippines.  

The U.S. military worked alongside Filipino forces to save lives by navigating complex logistical challenges. This kind of operation offers an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration and trust-building between the U.S. and Filipino militaries. Our humanitarian efforts show that we are committed to our ally and are willing to work alongside them, a key component of strengthening ties.

This administration has also repeatedly demonstrated that the United States is willing to back partners so long as they are investing in themselves. The most notable example of this came when the United States struck Iranian nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer following the Israeli strikes in Operation Rising Lion. This message, that U.S. support is strongest when partners shoulder their own defense burdens, has resonated with allies in Asia. Japan appears to have taken note, increasing investment in its defense and demonstrating a willingness to conduct joint exercises with the United States.

A day after Russian and Chinese warplanes conducted a joint patrol over the seas around Japan's southern islands, the United States and Japan responded. The two countries conducted a bilateral exercise in which United States B-52s and Japanese fighter aircraft flew over the Sea of Japan. The United States sending B-52 bombers to fly alongside Japanese planes sent a strong signal about our unwillingness to tolerate coercive pressure against our allies and partners. Joint exercises are important for training purposes, but they also remind everyone that we're playing on the same team.

China is not only a threat to the United States. It is a threat to the stability of the entire Indo-Pacific region, including the security of our allies and partners. As the U.S. military demonstrates its willingness to support our friends in the region, it becomes much more likely that we'll coordinate more effectively while simultaneously pushing back against China's malign efforts. The more we strengthen our ties, the stronger we will be in the future.

Anne Lord is the Vandenberg Coalition’s Director of Government Affairs & ambassador for the Coalition for Military Excellence.