The US-China Competition in Indo-Pacific Region: Implication for Chinese Energy Security

Abstract

The Indo-Pacific region has become the focal point of strategic rivalry between the United States and China, driven by economic interests, military posturing, and crucial energy security concerns. This study explores how the U.S. counters China's rise through alliances like the Quad, naval dominance, and support for regional partners, particularly India, in key maritime zones such as the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait. In response, China employs a multifaceted strategy combining infrastructure diplomacy through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), rapid naval modernization, and an Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) posture to secure its maritime interests and diversify its energy supply routes. The paper highlights the growing geopolitical complexity of the Indo-Pacific, revealing how energy security is deeply embedded in China’s strategic calculus. A comparative analysis of Quad and A2/AD underscores the shifting balance of power and the long-term implications for regional stability.