Over the past few years, Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea has helped reshape the military approach in a region that is now the focal point of a great number of powers.

To no one’s surprise, China has shown negative sentiments toward other powers’ show of force in the region. The announcement of AUKUS, the latest strategic partnership involving the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, amounts to assurance that the US will remain present in the region to counterweight China’s ever-growing expansion, especially in the South China Sea.

In parallel, through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as Quad, the four countries composing the group, which are the US, Australia, India and Japan, have strengthened cooperation. Even though it remains an informal alliance, China’s relations with each member of the group have tensed up, especially since the pandemic, to a level akin to the Cold War era.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Andi Raihanah Ashar and Julie Mantienne (The Jakarta Post)

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