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The Barack Obama administration pursued a policy of rebalancing toward the Asia-Pacific with the aim of strengthening ongoing engagement in the region. One of the key pillars of the administration’s Asia-Pacific policy was its policy toward China. Accomplishments have been made here through engagement, however, challenges still remain as it has not been able to deter China’s progressively expansionist and oppressive behavior in the East China Sea and South China Sea. Meanwhile, the United States is advancing initiatives to strengthen relationships with allies such as Japan, and partners such as India and Vietnam. In 2016, against the backdrop of heightening tensions in the South China Sea, the United States built up its forward presence in the region by deploying the Third Fleet’s John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group for over four and a half months to carry out dual carrier operations with the Seventh Fleet’s Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group.
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