Elbridge Colby explains that the U.S. strategy aims to preserve American security, freedom, and prosperity by building a coalition to check Chinese regional predominance. This coalition is rooted in concrete interests rather than shared ideology; therefor

Elbridge Colby explains that the U.S. strategy aims to preserve American security, freedom, and prosperity by building a coalition to check Chinese regional predominance. This coalition is rooted in concrete interests rather than shared ideology; therefore, members do not necessarily have to be democracies. Colby identifies four primary filters for coalition membership: defensibility, cost, resolve, and power. Defensibility is the ability of a nation to hold on long enough to contribute to the collective effort, while cost is critical because U.S. interests in Asia, though vital, are not existential for the American public. (2/8)
1931