US-CHINA RIVALRY INTENSIFIES OVER ASIA-PACIFIC MARITIME CHOKE POINTS AND SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAINS

The United States and China are locked in escalating competition for control of critical maritime routes, energy resources, and strategic territories across the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the Strait of Malacca. Taiwan's dominance in semiconductor production—over 90% of advanced chips globally—makes the island a geopolitical flashpoint, with even a partial blockade potentially costing the EU 1% of GDP. China is expanding militarization across disputed territories including the Senkaku, Spratly, and Paracel Islands while the US strengthens alliances with Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines to maintain presence along the First Island Chain. Regional powers are pursuing diversification and de-risking strategies as a multipolar world emerges, with ASEAN positioned as a key global connector amid rising trade tensions and geopolitical unpredictability.