US Pacific CommandArea of Responsibility

• Area of Responsibility• Political Systems• Religion• Art• US Interests

Overview

• Waters off the Pacific Coast to the western border of India, North Pole to Antarctica

• 36 nations, 50% of the world population, 3,000 languages

• 2 of the 3 largest economies in the world• Largest democratic Muslim majority nation in

the world• Smallest republic in the world

Area of Responsibility

• USPACOM headquarters in HI is closer to NYC than Sydney, Australia

• Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Seattle closer to Kuwait City than Bangkok, Thailand

Area of Responsibility

Political Systems

• Majority representative governments

• China and North Korea: communist states w/large standing armies & nuclear capability

• Laos: communist state w/continued class system, limited private enterprise, and normal trade relations w/US

• Burma: aka Myanmar, ruling military junta

• Home to Buddhism and Hinduism

• Large population of India, Indonesia and Bangladesh make Islam and Hinduism most prevalent religions in the region

• Christianity dominant in British Commonwealth nations & smaller island nations

Religion

Religion

• Hinduism:– World’s oldest organized religion

evolving since 1500 BCE– World’s 3rd largest religion after

Christianity and Islam– Dominant religion in India, Nepal

and Sri Lanka– No single founder, concept of deity,

holy text, system of morality, central religion authority, concept of prophet

– All encompassing way of life

Religion

• Buddhism– 4th largest religion in the world– No congregational membership, little participation in public

ceremonies, often exists in nations with little or no religious freedom (such as China)

– Often combined w/other religions

– Founded in Northern India around sixth century BCE (predates Christianity & Islam)

– Shares w/Hinduism belief in karma, dharma, and reincarnation

Bodhi Tree where The Buddha achieved enlightenment

• Buddhism, Cont.– No recognition or worship of deities– No concept of the human soul–Multiple forms across world; Theravada Buddhism

is most common in Southeast Asia, Mahayana Buddhism most common in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Mongolia; Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet

– Zen Buddhism developed in China but increasingly popular in West

Religion

• Islam– 2nd largest religion in world, estimated to be largest in

world by mid-twenty-first century– Mostly Sunni Islam in USPACOM region

– Indonesia• 4th largest population in world, republic, • Largest Islamic constitutional democracy

in the world after massive student protests in 1990s

–Bangladesh• 7th largest population in world, Islamic

democracy

Religion

• Western vs. Eastern Art–West • Art is communication between artist and audience• Distinction between visual arts and performing arts

– East • Art is the essence or inherent nature of object• Visual and performing arts are blended• Painting & calligraphy are only “fine” arts because they

alone require no physical labor and have no physical function• Art is highly symbolic

Art

• Chinese, Korean and Japanese calligraphy considered an art form; developed from Chinese characters but borrow from each other

• Characters serve as symbols for complex ideas• Literature in China, Korea and Japan bound to

the development of written language

Art

• East Asian music = small ensembles emphasizing melody over harmony

• South Asian music = typically played against drone

• Music, dance and drama are linked; little evidence of separate evolution or development

• East Asian dance = music played to the rhythm of dancer’s feet (music played to dancers, dancers don’t dance to music)

Art

• Masked and unmasked dances, theater, processionals, opera, shadow theater, puppet theater, dialogue plays with music and dance are common

• Indian dance gestures (madras) are highly abstract symbols expressing non-physical states of being, similar to Chinese calligraphy

Art

• Aesthetic–Wabi-sabi– Non-linear, holistic approach to art and beauty

Art

• Mutual Defense Treaties and Strategic Partnerships– 5 of 7 mutual defense treaties in USPACOM:

Japan, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, the Phillipines

– Date back to 1950s and US attempts to prevent spread of communism after WWII

US Interests

• Mutual Defense Treaties and Strategic Partnerships– Australia:• Active participant in

stabilization efforts in region• Recently increased

participation in Afghanistan• Regular collaboration in ISR,

humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

US Interests

• Mutual Defense Treaties and Strategic Partnerships– Japan:• Cornerstone of US security strategy in

Northeast Asia• Close military and political

ties

US Interests

• Mutual Defense Treaties and Strategic Partnerships– Republic of Korea:• Provide active anti-piracy

efforts and maritime security• Direct assistance in OEF in

Afghanistan• US is actively handing off

security responsibilities to ROK

US Interests

• Mutual Defense Treaties and Strategic Partnerships– Republic of the Philippines• Transitioning forces from internal

security to territorial defense

US Interests

• Mutual Defense Treaties and Strategic Partnerships– Thailand• Providing important

contributions to overseas contingency ops, counternarcotics, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping operations• Contributes to regional security, shares goals

of democracy, regional stability, counterterrorism and counter-proliferation with United States

US Interests

• Trade and Commerce– 4 of “Top 10” trading partners of the US: China,

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan; China and Japan are also 2 of “Top 5”

– Interdependent economies felt in emergencies such as earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster in Japan

US Interests

US Interests

• Strategic Influence– US influence in region being increasingly

challenged by China and India– USPACOM leaders consistently telling

USPACOM/CC that constraints on partnerships imposed by United States make partnerships increasingly difficult

• Area of Responsibility• Political Systems• Religion• Art• US Interests

Summary