CSSPR

APLN member Rabia Akhtar wrote a report on the ways through which Asian countries can navigate the shifting sands of Sino-U.S. rivalry and its implications on security.

The 21st century brings a familiar yet intensified global tension: a rising power, China, confronting an established one, the United States, with Asia at the crossroads. For nations like Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and India, this renewed great-power rivalry signals a turning point, forcing these states to make delicate choices in a world where alliances are no longer unambiguous shields but complex webs of risks and benefits. While navigating the U.S.-China rivalry, trade, in addition to security, also remains a defining factor in how middle powers in Asia navigate the complexities of the U.S.-China rivalry, compelling them to make choices that are both strategic and deeply consequential. For South Korea, the United States remains an indispensable security ally, yet China’s role as its largest trading partner creates a delicate balancing act that defines its foreign policy. Pakistan faces its own nuanced reality, relying on China not only as a steadfast security partner but also as a vital economic ally, all while sustaining significant trade relations with the United States. India, too, offers a compelling paradox. Despite heightened border tensions and strategic competition with China, trade between the two countries remains substantial, with China as one of India’s largest trading partners. This uneasy economic interdependence reflects a broader regional dynamic where security and trade are often at odds, yet inextricably linked. These intricate interplays of economic reliance and security imperatives underscore the profound and often precarious decisions that nations must make in Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape.

Read the full report here.