The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power

Across the political spectrum, there is wide agreement that Asia should stand at the center of US foreign policy. But this worldview, first represented in the Obama administration's 2011 "Pivot to Asia," marks a dramatic departure from the entire history of American grand strategy. While the Pivot's strategic logic is strong, there are few successes to speak of, and Washington needs a far more coherent approach to the Indo-Pacific region. The US has far less margin for foreign policy error today than a decade ago given the rise of the People’s Republic of China. As the international order becomes more unstable, it is imperative that policymakers fully understand what the Pivot to Asia aimed, and aims, to achieve—and where it fell short—in order to muster the resources, alliances, and resolve to preserve an open order in Asia and the world. Crafting an effective policy for the region, they contend, is crucial for preserving American security, prosperity, and democratic values.

At this event, Richard Fontaine will discuss his book, Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power. The first 25 attendees will receive a free copy of the book.

Richard Fontaine is the Chief Executive Officer of CNAS. He served as President of CNAS from 2012–19 and as Senior Fellow from 2009–12. Prior to CNAS, he was foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain and worked at the State Department, the National Security Council (NSC), and on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Fontaine served as foreign policy advisor to the McCain 2008 presidential campaign and subsequently as the minority deputy staff director on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Prior to that, he served as Associate Director for Near Eastern Affairs at the NSC from 2003–04. He also worked on Southeast Asian issues in the NSC’s Asian Affairs directorate. At the State Department, Fontaine worked for the deputy secretary and in the department’s South Asia bureau. Fontaine began his foreign policy career as a staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, focusing on the Middle East and South Asia. He also spent a year teaching English in Japan. Fontaine currently serves as executive director of the Trilateral Commission and on the Defense Policy Board. He has been an adjunct professor in the security studies program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. A native of New Orleans, Fontaine graduated summa cum laude with a BA in international relations from Tulane University. He also holds an MA in international affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, and he attended Oxford University. He is the author of Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power with Robert D. Blackwill.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Perry World House, 3803 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, United States