The Global War on Terror ushered in a new era of warfare for the United States and the Marine Corps. Gone were the days of Desert Storm, when the United States could simply flex its muscle and use its technological advantages to bring an enemy to its knees. But this muscle turned into the country’s Achilles heel, exposing it to devastating attacks from insurgents, cyber warriors, and the like. These enemies usually cannot be caught on a battlefield, but rather attack from the shadows, costing the country dollars and blood it cannot continue to pay. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan led to the widespread adoption of counterinsurgency (COIN) tactics by the Army and Marine Corps to mitigate this weakness. The question is: As Marines begin to turn their attention back toward the Pacific, where China’s influence grows stronger daily, will these ideas work in the evolving problems of the region?