In May 2014, presidents Obama and Xi both gave important national security addresses. At West Point, Obama presented a broad vision for the future of US global leadership, where he stated that the United States, “from Europe to Asia,” remains the “hub of alliances unrivaled in the history of nations.”¹ In Shanghai, speaking at a summit of the Conference on Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Xi outlined his thoughts on the future of security in Asia. In Xi’s vision, stronger military alliances would be opposed, new security mechanisms would be established, and China would play a more proactive role.² What should we make of it and its implications for the United States? This article argues that Xi’s address is less significant as a new security concept than as strategic rhetoric, where it fits into an effort to reinvigorate China’s regional diplomacy.

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