U.S.-CHINA RIVALRY SHAPES ASIA-PACIFIC

The most important Asia-Pacific story is the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, which is driving regional geopolitics, security priorities, and economic governance. Strategic competition is centered on maritime routes, chokepoints, Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Southeast Asia, where both powers are trying to secure influence over trade and military access. At the same time, regional economies remain deeply interconnected, especially China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which helps stabilize the region even as it creates vulnerability. A second major theme is the rise of networked defense cooperation among U.S. partners and other regional states as they hedge against Chinese pressure and uncertainty about Washington’s long-term bandwidth.