China Conducts Dual Carrier Maneuvers Pacific Near Japan Amid Regional Tensions

The strategic rivalry between the United States and China is being played out not just at the national level but also through local engagements in geopolitically important areas like Palawan and Cagayan in the Philippines, where local governments interact with both superpowers. This competition extends into institutional arenas, with the US and China employing inclusive and exclusive institutional balancing strategies to project influence and limit each other's power, such as the US-led Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and China's Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. China's pivot toward the Global South, including relationships with countries like Vietnam and Laos, represents another dimension of this rivalry, aiming to expand influence in populous and economically significant regions. Concurrently, China's recent naval maneuvers involving two aircraft carriers in the Pacific have raised regional security concerns, particularly for Japan, which is enhancing its defense posture in response. Additionally, border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, influenced by US and Chinese military support respectively, highlight how the superpower rivalry fuels local conflicts and complicates regional stability in Southeast Asia. These developments underscore the multifaceted nature of US-China competition, encompassing military, diplomatic, and local governmental levels across the Indo-Pacific region.