West Asia as Asia‑minus‑China

Define the Middle East as 'West Asia' stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indo‑Pacific and treat it as the western anchor of an emerging Asia order that deliberately sits outside Chinese geopolitical gravity. This reframing emphasizes techno‑industrial and security coalitions among Gulf and South Asian states and argues U.S. policy should build regional order without imposing nation‑building models. — If adopted, the frame would redirect U.S. strategy, alliance formation, and resource priorities in a region now demonstrated to be a decisive theater in the 2026 U.S.–Israel–Iran war.