US-CHINA RIVALRY RESHAPES ASIA-PACIFIC

The dominant story in Asia-Pacific is the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, which is shaping regional security, trade, and economic policy. Washington is strengthening ties with Taiwan and allies such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines to counter Beijing’s growing military and maritime influence. At the same time, trade patterns are fragmenting as ASEAN gains manufacturing share while firms and governments hedge against tariffs, supply-chain shocks, and technology restrictions. Regional actors are responding by deepening cooperation on semiconductors, rare earths, cybersecurity, and maritime resilience to reduce coercion risk.