China
China and the U.S.: Competing for Influence in the Indo-Pacific
China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the US-led Free and Open Indo-Pacific embody rival strategies shaping regional order. Middle powers play a crucial role amid the contestation between these international orders.
Rival Order Building in the Indo-Pacific
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy represent competing visions for regional order, reflecting the strategic ambitions of China and the United States. Although a transition to a China-centric order has not yet occurred, the Indo-Pacific is witnessing a contest between these international frameworks, with middle powers playing a crucial role in shaping the outcomes.
The BRI seeks to undermine liberal democracy in China’s neighborhood by supporting authoritarian regimes, such as Myanmar, to prevent the spread of democratic ideals. However, the initiative’s economic projects have struggled to legitimize and stabilize these autocratic governments, achieving only limited success. In contrast, the liberal international order aims to foster cooperation among democracies while countering autocratic influences and promoting a stable environment.
While the current China-US rivalry is often compared to the Cold War, a significant distinction lies in the greater flexibility for middle powers today. Unlike during the Cold War, countries like India and South Korea can pursue hedging strategies, maintaining a balance between alignment with the US and engagement with China without committing to either side.
Source : China and the United States’ order-building race in the Indo-Pacific
