America’s new secretary of defense, Ash Carter, heads to the Pacific this week, with stops planned in Tokyo, Seoul and Honolulu. While this is Mr. Carter’s first trip to the region as defense secretary, it may be the last chance to sell President Obama’s so-called pivot.
This being college basketball season, the Pentagon stressed that Washington is committed to a “full-court press” on Mr. Obama’s plans to rebalance America’s focus toward Asia. There is much to be praised in the Obama administration’s emphasis on the Indo-Pacific, and Mr. Carter is one of its most articulate defenders.
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