bilateral relations in Asia after World War II, Powerplay takes an original look at how global alliances are achieved and maintained.

Cha argues that the alliance system’s innovations in the twenty-first century contribute to its resiliency in the face of China’s increasing prominence, and that the task for the world is not to choose between American and Chinese institutions, but to maximize stability and economic progress amid Asia’s increasingly complex political landscape.Įxploring U.S. Their choice of a bilateral “hub and spokes” security design for Asia was entirely different from the system created in Europe, but it was essential for its time.

alliance system and the reasons for its continued importance in Asia and the world.Ĭha delves into the fears, motivations, and aspirations of the Truman and Eisenhower presidencies as they contemplated alliances with the Republic of China, Republic of Korea, and Japan at the outset of the Cold War. How was the American alliance system originally established in Asia, and is it currently under threat? How are competing security designs being influenced by the United States and China? In Powerplay, Victor Cha draws from theories about alliances, unipolarity, and regime complexity to examine the evolution of the U.S. While the American alliance system in Asia has been fundamental to the region’s security and prosperity for seven decades, today it encounters challenges from the growth of China-based regional organizations.