On May 12, 2006, the Honorable Fidel V. Ramos, former president of the Republic of the Philippines, gave the inaugural “Ambassador L.W. ‘Bill’ and Jean Lane Lecture in Diplomacy” in Washington DC, hosted by the Pacific Forum.  He called for the creation of a “Pax Asia Pacifica” as a logical successor to the Pax Americana that has provided peace and stability in East Asia for decades. This Pax Asia Pacifica is not aimed at replacing the U.S. role in East Asia, but in building upon it while recognizing the geopolitical realities of a rising China, a more self-confident and involved Japan, and an emerging India, not to mention Washington’s growing commitments worldwide as it leads the global war against terrorism.