US Pacific Command
Area of Responsibility
Overview
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Area of Responsibility
Political Systems
Religion
Art
US Interests
Area of Responsibility
• 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
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
Religion
• 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
• 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
Bodhi Tree where The Buddha
achieved enlightenment
reincarnation
Religion
• 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
Art
• 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
US Interests
• 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
• 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
Summary
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Area of Responsibility
Political Systems
Religion
Art
US Interests