Soon after the American Revolution, certain of the founders recognized the strategic significance of Asia and the Pacific and - as the United States expanded trade and engaged with China, Japan, and other powers - debated how to draw the defensive line and promote democratic values. Michael J. Green traces the evolution of American grand strategy toward East Asia from 1783 to the present, drawing on archives, interviews, and his own policymaking experience. He argues that a central concern throughout U.S. strategic thought has been to prevent a rival power from using the Pacific to isolate the United States - ensuring instead that the region remains a conduit for American trade, values, and forward defence. This sweeping narrative spans from Thomas Jefferson and Alfred Thayer Mahan to Barack Obama, revealing enduring tensions and recurring strategic themes in U.S. statecraft.