Strategic Competition > Global Engagement
Engaging the Indo-Pacific
Deepening Partnerships & Advancing Shared Prosperity
"U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific has been a cornerstone of both regional stability and American prosperity—and it must not be allowed to erode."
Mark Kennedy addressing an audience at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
Mark Kennedy regularly visits the Indo-Pacific. Number of and most recent visits: Alaska 1x 2022, Guan 1x 2022, Hawaii 4x 2022, Australia 2x 2023, India 2x 2010, Indonesia 1x 2013, Japan 14x 2023, Singapore 3x 2023, South Korea 4x 2015, Taiwan 1x 2005, Thailand 1x 2005, Vietnam 2x 2024
🔹 Strategic Context
- This page is part of WISC’s Strategic Competition framework, applying geoeconomic statecraft through the STEAD model — integrating Security, Technology, Economics, Alliances, and Diplomacy — to secure U.S. leadership across critical domains.
Why Engaging the Indo-Pacific Matters
- The Indo-Pacific is not only the epicenter of strategic competition, it is a region of dynamic opportunity.
- With China already engaged through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and seeking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), it is urgent that the U.S. establish a meaningful and durable economic partnership with the region.
- America must show up—not just with ships and sanctions, but also with visible economic leadership—through trade, infrastructure, innovation, and value-based partnerships—to sustain influence and prosperity.
- The U.S. must lead with presence, purpose, and partnership.
Strategic Priorities for the Indo-Pacific
- Provide credible alternatives to coercive models like Belt and Road and the Digital Silk Road through expanded infrastructure finance and coollaboration with regional allies.
- Establish durable trade partnerships with key regional partners to build American-centric resilient supply lines free from authoritarian coercion.
- Deepen ties with Japan, South Korea, and Australia as innovation and security partners.
- Elevate engagement with India and ASEAN through infrastructure finance and digital collaboration, while incorporating them into resilient supply chains.
- Expand partnership with the Philippines as a growing democracy and frontline security ally.
- Support Taiwan's economic and innovation resilience.
Insights & Engagements
🏛️ Engaging Administration or Congress, 📰 Op-Ed / Article / Quoted 🎙️ Podcast ✍️ Policy Brief 👥 Roundtable / Event 🎤 Speaking 🎥 TV/Video 🌐 Global
U.S. - Indo-Pacific Collaboration Efforts
🇦🇺 Australia: Deepening a Values-Based Partnership
🇮🇳 India: Expanding Strategic Convergence Through People and Platforms
🇯🇵 Japan: Anchoring Shared Leadership in Innovation and Diplomacy
- 👥 Roundtable with Japan International Cooperation Agency President Akihiko Tanaka - Wilson Center - September 19, 2024
- 🎤 Remarks at Japan's National Institute for Information and Communication's Technology Forum - Washington DC - September 19, 2024
- 👥 Conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida following his address to a Joint Session of Congress - April 11, 2024
- 🎤 🇯🇵 Navigating a Chaotic Global Situation - Keidanran - Japan's Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo - September 13, 2022
- 👥 Conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe following Address to Joint Session of Congress - April 29, 2015
- 👥 Hosted Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda - Economic Club of Minnesota - April 19, 2015
🇰🇷 South Korea: Bridging Industrial Power with Democratic Values
- 👥 Briefed South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-Guen - Wilson Center - April 10, 2024
🇹🇼 Taiwan: Epicenter of Semiconductors
- 👥 Roundtable: Taiwan Institute of Economic Research Research Division VIII - Wilson Center - November 5, 2023
🌏 Southeast Asia: Investing in Growth, Connectivity, and Resilience
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇻🇳 Vietnam
- 🎤 Discussed how best to implement Vietnam's new Digitization and Artificial Intelligence Plans with their Central Theoretical Council - Hanoi, Vietnam - September 6, 2024
👉 Related Pages
🔷 Featured Insights
US and Japan Collaborating on Energy Security and Infrastructure - Interview of Tatsuya Terazawa, Chairman & CEO of Tokyo's Institute of Energy Economics - January 27, 2025
Implications of US Election on US-India Relations - Joint Wilson Center - Synergia Foundation Panel - January 13, 2025
Discussed how best to implement Vietnam's new Digitization and Artificial Intelligence Plans with their Central Theoretical Council - Hanoi, Vietnam - September 6, 2024
Discussion with Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, a member of Vietnam's Politburo and Chairman of the Central Theory Council in Collaboration with Boston Global Forum - August 2, 2024
Roundtable with Singapore's Nanyang Technological University's Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) - November 9, 2023
Roundtable: Taiwan Institute of Economic Research Research Division VIII - Wilson Center - November 5, 2023
Strengthening Ties withi Australia - Meeting with AMCHAM in Sydney - July 3, 2023
Strengthening ASEAN Economic Ties - Meeting with AMCHAM Singapore - June 27, 2023
Hosted Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda - Economic Club of Minnesota - April 19, 2015