U.S.-CHINA RIVALRY SHAPES ASIA-PACIFIC SECURITY AND TRADE

The United States-China rivalry is the dominant force shaping security, economic stability, and maritime control across the Asia-Pacific region in 2026. This geopolitical tension drives a strategic shift from passive engagement to assertive, security-conscious policies like India's transition from Look East to Act East. ASEAN nations are increasingly pursuing strategic autonomy as smaller states navigate their historical and geopolitical realities amid intensifying geoeconomic realignment. The evolving alliance network and tariff policies further complicate the regional order, marking a world increasingly unhinged from previous global norms.