Ⅰ. The Core Reasons the Pacific Is Important to the United States
The Pacific: Structural Importance to Global Trade, Security, and U.S. Strategic Power
The Pacific handles a large share of global maritime trade
In U.S. imports and exports, the share held by Asia–Pacific countries has already surpassed Europe.
The countries with which the United States trades the most are:
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Southeast Asia
All logistics with these regions pass through Pacific sea routes.
If these routes become unstable or fall under Chinese influence, the U.S. economy receives a direct blow.
If South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan are attacked, the United States must provide unconditional support.
If not, it is equivalent to China opening a highway into the Pacific.
II. The Second Reason the Pacific Is Important: Technology Supply Chains (Korea and Taiwan)
Maintaining U.S. technological hegemony depends most critically on the semiconductor supply chain.
- Korea: centered on memory semiconductors
- Taiwan: TSMC and cutting-edge system semiconductors
- Japan: repair and maintenance hub for U.S. naval vessels
The maritime space connecting these countries with the U.S. West Coast is the Pacific.
Semiconductors, electronics, batteries, rare earth elements, and all strategic materials move through the Pacific.
This is strong evidence the United States can never give up control of the Pacific.
III. The Second Major Importance of the Pacific: Military and Security
1. The first line of defense for the U.S. mainland
The U.S. mainland is geographically far from Europe,
but in the Pacific it directly faces China and Russia.
- Alaska: very close to Russia
- Hawaii: strategic hub in the central Pacific
- Guam: core base for strategic bombers and nuclear submarines
If the United States cannot defend the Pacific, the homeland becomes threatened.
Guam and Hawaii would be in danger first,
and if these are attacked, even the U.S. West Coast becomes vulnerable.
2. The core stage of America’s forward deployment strategy
The United States normally uses a strategy of forward defense,
building defensive lines outside its own territory.
Allies in the Western Pacific are the central axis of this strategy.
- Japan: the center of the outer Pacific defense line
- South Korea: forward U.S. base entering the Asian continent
- Philippines: strategic point connecting the South China Sea and south of Taiwan
- Guam: forward deployment base for key U.S. military power
These regions must remain stable for the U.S. to deter China.
The Philippines and Indonesia also have extremely significant geopolitical positions
because they form the gateway that connects to Australia.
During World War II, when Japan occupied Indonesia,
there was real fear that Australia itself might be captured.
IV. The Third Reason the Pacific Is Important: China’s Maritime Expansion
1. Rapid growth of the Chinese Navy
Over the past 20 years, China has increased naval power faster than any country:
- surpassed the U.S. in number of ships
- possesses three aircraft carriers
- militarized artificial islands in the South China Sea
- developing hypersonic missiles
China’s strategic goal is clear:
“Block U.S. access to the Pacific and dominate maritime power in Asia.”
2. Areas China aims to control
China aims to dominate the following regions:
- South China Sea – expanding maritime claims
- Philippine Sea – key region to pressure Taiwan and Japan
- Taiwan Strait – core of China’s maritime expansion
- Southeast Asia – area for expanding influence
If China gains control of the western Pacific,
the U.S. loses access to Asia and cannot protect its allies.
To avoid losing the Pacific entirely, the United States must absolutely protect South Korea and Japan.
If South Korea or Japan falls into Chinese influence,
the U.S. would face the need for a large-scale amphibious assault,
a mission involving enormous casualties.
Failing to prevent this would force the U.S. to endure great losses to retake the region
or lose influence in parts of the Pacific.
V. Strategic Value of U.S. Allies
1. Japan: The Pacific Shield
Japan geographically blocks the straits through which China and Russia would enter the Pacific.
The fact that the U.S. 7th Fleet headquarters is in Japan shows its strategic value.
Japan is the shield of the U.S. in the Pacific,
and if Japan collapses, the entire U.S. Pacific strategy collapses.
2. South Korea: The Spear Tip into the Continent
South Korea is called an “unsinkable aircraft carrier.”
Reasons include:
- largest U.S. ground forward base located in Korea
- frontline of checking China and Russia
- rear support location for operations involving Japan and the Pacific
- core route of reinforcement for U.S. forces during war
South Korea is the core axis of China deterrence in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy.
If we recall the Normandy landing,
having even a small bridgehead within enemy influence is of huge value.
When France was under Nazi control,
the Normandy landing created a region that could receive supplies,
and it became the channel for troops and logistics.
3. Taiwan: The central crossroads of the Western Pacific
If Taiwan falls to China, the strategic geography of the Pacific changes dramatically:
- collapse of Japan’s southwestern defense line
- the Philippine Sea enters China’s sphere of influence
- U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups face restricted access
Taiwan is one of the most important nodes in the Asia strategy.
4. The Philippines: The Gateway of the South China Sea
The Philippines connects the South China Sea, the Pacific, and Australia.
- supports operations south of Taiwan
- surveillance of the South China Sea
- serves as the southern defensive line for U.S. operations in Asia
If the U.S. loses the Philippines,
its influence in Southeast Asia decreases sharply
and even Australia becomes endangered.
VI. What the United States Loses if It Loses the Pacific
If the U.S. is pushed out of the Pacific, the following consequences occur:
- Loss of Taiwan → Isolation of Japan → U.S. reinforcements impossible
- Loss of the Philippines → China dominates the South China Sea → U.S. influence in Southeast Asia collapses
- Supply chain collapse → semiconductors, batteries, and components become difficult to import
- Maritime routes blocked → U.S. economy damaged
- Chinese hegemony expands over the entire Asian region
Ultimately, losing the Pacific means
the United States loses its global hegemony.