US-CHINA RIVALRY DRIVES ASIA-PACIFIC GEOPOLITICS IN 2026

The US-China rivalry is the primary force shaping Asia-Pacific geopolitics, trade, and regional security in 2026, with both nations competing to control maritime routes and militarize strategic areas like Taiwan and the South China Sea. China is strengthening its military capabilities near Korea and in the South China Sea while conducting major exercises, escalating tensions across the region. Taiwan remains a critical security point due to its technological centrality, anchoring US and allied involvement as Washington and Beijing intensify competition. Strategic heterogeneity and instability on the Korean Peninsula further compound security risks, creating a dense and potentially unstable environment despite constraints on systemic escalation.