In a recent Foreign Affairs article, Ely Ratner outlines a case for a Pacific Defense Pact. The concept of collective defense in the Asia-Pacific is not a novel idea, however, the historical record of a formal multilateral alliance in the region is not great. Moreover, Asia does not work the same way as Europe; there are significant political, military, and technical challenges to any such pact.
American Alliances in East Asia: An Australian Perspective
