When Biden remarked, “I don’t want to contain China” during a prominent visit to Vietnam this week, Beijing seemed unconvinced. Immediately, China’s state-controlled media criticized Biden’s statement as “deceptive” rhetoric. Those well-versed in Asian history could discern the strategic implications of Biden’s trip and found themselves puzzled. For example, a South Korean publication ran an article titled: “Gathering the ‘American side’ in the backyard of Beijing… Biden waved his hand saying, “It’s not a blockade of China.'” If Washington’s strategic messages neither convince China nor resonate with U.S. allies in the region, it prompts questions regarding the efficacy of Washington’s...