East Asia

This chapter examines the evolution of great power competition in East Asia. It briefly reviews the complex dynamic of the triangular competition during the Cold War and the transition to East Asia’s “unipolar moment” in the first years of the post-Cold War. The chapter then focuses on the rise of the US–China rivalry and the rapid degradation of the relations between the two great powers over the last decade. It examines how China’s ascent as a military great power has transformed security dynamics in the region, generating increased levels of friction around key flashpoints. As China makes its weight felt around the region, challenging the existing rules-based order, a collision between Washington and Beijing, while not inevitable, appears increasingly likely.