Haddick maintains that within a decade China will have the military power to place U.S. influence throughout East Asia at risk. To avoid a future crisis, the United States needs to fashion a new and more competitive strategy, one that better matches the strengths of the United States and its allies against China's vulnerabilities. He proposes far-reaching changes to U.S. diplomacy, military programs, and strategies to counter China's well-designed military modernization plan.

A three-decade drive to a collision -- It matters who runs the Pacific -- America's archaic military machine in the Pacific -- China's strategy: salami slicing and the missile revolution -- America pivots to Asia, then stumbles -- A competitive strategy for the Pacific -- A new approach to America's Pacific partnerships -- The future of air power in the Pacific -- The struggle for control of the western Pacific -- A new American strategy for the Asia-Pacific region.