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How China could feel a US-led economic squeeze in the Indo-Pacific

  • The White House’s new regional strategy puts the focus back on Beijing, despite other geopolitical distractions, analysts say
  • The United States will try to build a strategic environment ‘that makes it tough for China’

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The US focus is firmly on China with its new Indo-Pacific strategy, analysts say.mPhoto: US Navy
Washington’s new Indo-Pacific strategy could make it tougher for Beijing to use its economic clout in the region in the longer term, even as other more immediate crises distract the United States, diplomatic observers said.
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While senior US officials have warned that a war between Ukraine and Russia could “begin at any time”, the Indo-Pacific region remained the most important focus to the US foreign policy, they said.
In the long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy released on Friday, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed the need for sustained engagement in the region, including expanding the US Coast Guard presence and stronger regional alliances, to counter what it views as China’s aggressive and coercive behaviour in the East and South China seas as well as towards Taiwan.

“This intensifying American focus is due in part to the fact that the Indo-Pacific faces mounting challenges, particularly from the People’s Republic of China,” the White House said.

“[China] is combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological might as it pursues a sphere of influence in the Indo-Pacific and seeks to become the world’s most influential power.

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“The United States will defend our interests, deter military aggression against our own country and our allies and partners – including across the Taiwan Strait – and promote regional security by developing new capabilities, concepts of operation, military activities, defence industrial initiatives, and a more resilient force posture.”

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