CHINA TESTS TIES AND TIMIDITY

The most important Asia-Pacific story is the sharp rise in strategic tension driven by China’s military signaling and the region’s widening security response. Recent reporting points to a Chinese missile test into the South Pacific and joint drills with Russia, alongside intensified coordination among Taiwan, the United States, and other regional partners. At the same time, ASEAN diplomacy, South China Sea disputes, and concerns over gray-zone pressure show that the region’s security order is under strain. Economic issues remain relevant, but the dominant regional theme is the hardening geopolitical contest shaping trade, defense, and alliance behavior.