The US Indo-Pacific Strategy and China Rise

Abstract

This study examines the strategic competition between the United States and China as their rise unfolds in the Indo-Pacific region through the lens of balance-of-power theory. The research addresses a gap by comparing the effectiveness of strategies of both rival powers and analysing current regional dynamics. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research uses data from online sources and government reports. The competition is driven by China's emergence as a global economic, military, technological, and political power. This emergence has altered the regional power structure, influenced global governance, and fostered new strategic partnerships based on economic interests. The international system is shifting from unipolarity to multipolarity, reshaping the region's geopolitical landscape. Chinese leaders characterise their country's rise as peaceful, referencing Confucian and Taoist philosophies of harmony and balance. Scholars note that China's assertive actions in the East and South China Seas have raised concerns among Indo-Pacific nations. In 2022, the United States introduced the Indo-Pacific Strategy to counter China's influence, yet this has not impeded China's ascent. China avoids confrontation, perceives the USIPS as containment, and continues to advance the Belt and Road Initiative. Neither the Belt and Road Initiative nor the Indo-Pacific Strategy has secured ASEAN's support, and neither power maintains complete influence in the region. Many scholars identify China as a rising power in the Indo-Pacific, while the United States is often viewed as a declining power, and its Indo-Pacific strategy is underestimated. Comparative analysis of the strategies indicates that China poses a challenge to US interests. Yet the United States remains a significant military presence, and its Indo-Pacific Strategy is effective in containing China.

Keywords: Strategic competition, Indo-Pacific strategy, Belt and Road Initiative, Rare earth elements.