US-CHINA RIVALRY DRIVES ASIA-PACIFIC GEOPOLITICAL RISK IN 2026

The US-China rivalry is the primary force shaping political and strategic dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region throughout 2026, driving regional security priorities and economic governance. Washington and Beijing are intensifying competition across the region while instability continues on the Korean Peninsula and China confronts internal vulnerabilities. Japan and South Korea have consolidated their alliances with the United States amidst this escalating great power contest. The convergence of great power rivalry, economic fragmentation, and rising trade tensions creates a fragile environment with systemic risks that threaten regional stability.