Obama’s “Pivot to Asia” Policy (2011- 2016): the Case of China

It has been argued and stated that the 21st century is America's PacificCentury, the century or millennium of Asia, and century or era of China, theinevitable superpower. This paper explains the essence of the new changeswhen the Pivot Policy was announced by President Obama in 2011. Themain question discussed is therefore the following: ‘Why (and how) didPresident Obama adopt (and implement) the Pivot to Asia policy in 2011?’One probable answer to this question is that President Obama intended toprevent “China’s hegemony” in East Asia through the Pivot Policy; however,“China’s hegemony” was carried out by economic and military levers. Thetheory applied is Joseph Nye’s “Liberal Realism,” because the Pivot as aquestion of foreign policy is considered to be part of Realism and Liberalismsimultaneously, and can be used for analysis at both global and domesticlevels. The methodology used in this research is a mix methodology ofQualitative Content Analysis and Case study. The “Pivot” or “Rebalance” toAsia is a policy based on significant changes such as the rise of China andthe US relative decline, at global and domestic levels, respectively. The Pivotis a regional coherent strategy from the Indian ocean to the Americas, astrategy of cooperation and competition toward China, implemented through“smart” leadership, rather than hegemony by economic and military toolslike modern alliances, partnerships and institutions in order to prevent“China’s rise” and lead it to a responsible emerging power when in the halfof the millennium, 2050, it reaches its peak of progress. The U.S. tries tomaintain its worldwide leadership status up to the 22th century through theimplementation of the Pivot Policy in 2011.