ChinaTalk U.S. Foreign Policy in Asia
Oct 2, 2019
Mira Rapp-Hooper, a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Paul Tsai Center at Yale Law School, dives into the evolution of U.S. foreign policy in Asia. She explores the historical context from Washington's warnings to present-day alliances. The discussion covers the implications of a rising China, the dynamics around the Taiwan Strait, and the costs of unilateral actions. Rapp-Hooper also reflects on the shifting landscape with Trump’s impact on U.S. alliances, highlighting complex strategic decisions in an increasingly multipolar world.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
US Isolationism and its Costs
- The US abstained from alliances after its alliance with France.
- This isolationism had costs, especially in World War I and II.
Pre-WWI Alliance Considerations
- US leaders frequently revisited Washington's Farewell Address when considering alliances.
- Republicans like Henry Cabot Lodge favored alliances during WWI, unlike Wilson.
The 1942 Alliance and Strategic Shift
- The wartime alliance with Britain in 1942 was crucial for US survival.
- It shifted US grand strategy as the British Empire waned, leaving the US as a dominant power.
