Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific is a geopolitical region encompassing the Indian and Pacific Oceans, increasingly central to global power dynamics. It's newsworthy due to rising tensions, particularly concerning China's growing influence and military capabilities. Recent developments include the US outlining its defense strategy in the region, aiming to deter China through strength and alliances, while also pushing allies to increase their defense spending. Concerns are rising about China's potential to challenge US air power projection with its expanding fleet of J-20 fighter jets. Despite the US State Department's strategic plan prioritizing the Western Hemisphere, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific remain a stated goal, highlighting the region's ongoing significance in US foreign policy. Conservation efforts, such as Thailand's rewilding of endangered leopard sharks, also demonstrate the region's ecological importance.