The region expects the United States to handle this problem well. The forms, levels, and perceptions of U.S. forward military presence are important factors in managing the issue in that they clearly have deterred Chinese military action. Regional powers do not wish to be asked to become involved, at least not publicly, and they absolutely do not wish to be asked to lend support to any U.S. military operations against China in the Taiwan Strait. That said, the region regards U.S. willingness to act in the Taiwan Strait as a test of American commitment. Failure to intervene to keep the peace would send an extremely negative message and do irreparable damage to the United States regional position.
Regional powers find the cyclical pattern of U.S. relations with China to be disturbing.
They are particularly concerned about what they perceive to be a present major decline in the tenor and substance of bilateral ties. They do not wish to be placed in a position of having to take sides between Washington and Beijing. Some participants reluctantly expressed a desire for greater consistency and predictability in the U.S. approach to Beijing. China should join the World Trade Organization. All of these are perceived to be in the interests of the regional powers since they view it as a means of ensuring stability and their own economic well being.