US-CHINA RIVALRY DOMINATES ASIA-PACIFIC

The most important Asia & Oceania story is the intensifying US-China rivalry shaping regional geopolitics, trade, and security across the Asia-Pacific. Competition is centered on maritime routes, strategic chokepoints, and disputed areas including the South China Sea, Taiwan, and the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, deep economic interdependence among China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan continues to stabilize the region even as it leaves supply chains and trade flows vulnerable. Regional governments are responding by strengthening security cooperation and diversifying partnerships rather than relying on a single power for reassurance.