Two Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies professors took part in a six-person panel addressing potential impacts of the 2015 U.S. National Security Strategy released in February. The panel was part of the May 19 to 21 LANPAC Symposium and Exposition held in Honolulu. The event, sponsored by the Association of the U.S. Army Institute of Land Warfare, attracted more than 1,250 people from 32 nations.

APCSS’ Dr. Virginia Bacay-Watson and Dr. Lora Saalman articulated opportunities and challenges for the United States in specific Asia-Pacific sub-regions — Southeast Asia and China/India respectively — in security-related arenas, such as defense and international trade.

The discussion took place within context of Page 24 of the NSS, which emphasizes advancing the U.S. “rebalance” to the Asia-Pacific region. Key points in the strategy include: modernizing and upholding alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Philippines; deepening partnerships with Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia; and seeking a constructive relationship with China while strengthening ties with India.

The two were joined on the panel by Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, commanding general of U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, Maj. Gen. Charles Flynn, commander of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and Dr. Denny Roy, a specialist on Northeast Asia with the Honolulu-based East-West Center. The panel was organized and headed by Maj. Gen. Gregory Bilton, deputy commanding general, operations, U.S. Army Pacific.

The panel was one of the final events in a symposium designed to highlight war and peacetime roles of land forces in the Indo-Asia-Pacific theater. Participants examined multiple topics addressing, among others, cyber activities, leveraging science and technology, and partnerships with nongovernmental organizations.