Indo-Pacific Deterrence Without Washington: A Maritime Denial Web, Not a Warfighting Substitute
The source argues that Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and Indonesia can collectively complicate China’s maritime options and strengthen deterrence by denial, especially around key straits and the First Island Chain. It assesses that without U.S. extended deterrence, unified command structures, and shared war plans, these states are unlikely to deter or manage a major regional war, making minilateral institutional “web deterrence” the most plausible alternative.