The US Troop Presence in East Asia - Essay Example

After World War II, and throughout the Cold War, the United States occupied and maintained large bases in South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. Political realities and social sensitivity has resulted in a significant draw down of the US presence in the Eastern Asian sphere, and there have been continued objections to the remaining US forces. However, the remaining US forces serve an honourable and necessary part of the common goals that are shared by Australians and the Americans. US troops are necessary in Eastern Asia as a means to maintain stability in the region and discourage social upheavals that could threaten to disrupt trade with the dynamic economies in the area.

The issue of a US troop presence in Eastern Asia has been very much in the public's eye in recent years and is a topic that has reached legitimacy in the mind of Australian voters. Anti-US feelings are gaining exposure and have seen a decline in US popularity due to, "Bush Administration policies; the view that the United States is a self proclaimed world watch dog; the war in Iraq; and U.S. foreign policies" (Vaughn (a), 2007, p.4). Still, whilst a majority of Australian voters believe that China will be Australia's biggest trading partner in the coming decade, "some 92% of Australians believe that the U.S. will be a very close or close security partner over the next decade, and some 79% still believe that the U.S. alliance under ANZUS is "very important" (37%) or "fairly important" (42%) to Australia's security (Vaughn (a), 2007, p.4). The historical mutual support that the ANZUS treaty has invoked in the past continues to be a widely popular policy, and will demand that US troops are stationed within the region.

The alliance with the US and US allies in the region is built upon a common culture and common political and social goals. Analysts view Australia as a very important partner and ally that is the equivalent of a Great Britain in the Pacific (Vaughn (b), 2007, p.18). Australian foreign policy likewise favourably views U.S. presence in Asia and the Australian Defence Department recently reported that the alliance has been "the foundation of the region's strategic stability and security since World War II, and is no less relevant sixty years on" (cited in Vaughn (b), 2007, p.18). Australia has relied on the US for security, as well as trade, and there is a growing need to provide collective security in the 21st century world of globalisation.

The cultural traditions and ethnicity of Australia makes it a natural partner for the West and the US. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been a lukewarm replacement for SEATO that was abandoned in the 1970s. ASEAN has as an objective to "promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter" (Overview ASEAN). However, Leong, Ho, and Ku (2005, p.166) warns that, "It still remains to be seen whether ASEAN would truly accept Australia and New Zealand into the East Asian Community".

Without US troops in the region and security arrangements with the West, Australia could become isolated in the region.The post Cold War period had presented Australia with trans-national extremism and an increased probability of terror attacks.