| Abstract: | Although the shift back towards a more normal international order seems inevitable, its timing and manner are not. The transformation will be smoother and America's security will be greater if the U.S. adapts to changing circumstances by exercising restraint and placing greater responsibility on allied and other associated states. Ultimately, the status of the Near Seas matters most to nearby nations which are both prosperous and friendly. They must do more to preserve an open political and economic order in East Asia. |
