This course explores the long and complicated relationship between U.S. foreign policy and developments in East Asia. Since WWII, the U.S. has maintained a strong military and economic presence throughout the Asia-Pacific as part of its Cold War strategy of ‘containment of communism.’ We will touch on a number of topics, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, China-Taiwan relations and current tensions in the South China Sea. Assessment is based on each student’s intellectual engagement with the course content and ability to analyze, critique, and reflect upon the material both orally and in written form. This is a reading and writing intensive course. There are no prerequisites for the course and prior knowledge of Asia is not required.