China is routinely making maritime intrusions into Japanese territorial waters and conducting unauthorized research within its EEZ. It has also encroached upon waters around Taiwan’s Pratas Islands while advancing development in the Paracels. To pressure the Philippines, China gathered as many as 200 fishing boats at Mischief Reef and conducted live-fire exercises in the northern South China Sea.

Amidst the protracted conflict with Iran, the U.S. has paused aircraft carrier deployments in the Pacific, likely expanding China’s Western Pacific presence. President Trump’s directives to alter carrier designs have sparked fears of future vessel shortages, intensifying concerns over a relative decline in U.S. presence.

To address this situation, Asian countries are seeking to strengthen their defense capabilities. They are substantially increasing defense budgets. Taiwan conducted realistic drills during its annual Han Kuang exercises to boost contingency response capabilities. Japan’s defense minister, meeting with his Australian and Indian counterparts, pledged to strengthen security cooperation, while Australia is enhancing maritime security with intelligence-gathering operations in the South China Sea.