In May 2025, China deepened its strategic footprint by reasserting territorial claims along the China-India border, backing Pakistan militarily during its clash with India, advancing trilateral talks with Pakistan and the Taliban, escalating tensions in the South China Sea, and expanding ties with ASEAN and the Gulf.
Incumbent parties in Australia and Singapore scored unexpected landslide victories on Saturday. A major factor appeared to be voters' trust that they were best equipped to handle President Donald Trump and his trade policies.
The United States is lagging far behind China when it comes to military supremacy in the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing has increased pressure on long-time U.S. allies and partners.
Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law triggered a four-month-long constitutional crisis in South Korea that was finally resolved last week by the decision of the Constitutional Court to uphold the National Assembly’s impeachment.
Despite widespread dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s performance, the Labor Party is likely to win re-election in Australia due to political backlash against Donald Trump’s policies.
China’s involvement across the Indo-Pacific in March 2025 ranged from warming ties with India and deepening cooperation with Bangladesh and Pakistan to increased presence in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean.
In February 2025, China expanded its influence in the Indo-Pacific through diplomatic outreach, infrastructure investment, and coordinated security efforts—hosting delegations, deepening economic ties with ASEAN and Middle Eastern states, conducting controversial military drills, and collaborating with Thailand and Myanmar to crack down on cross-border scam centers.
South Korea continues to reel from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration on December 3. Although the National Assembly overwhelmingly nullified the declaration in a few hours, political tensions remain unresolved.
CFR’s Sheila A. Smith spoke with Dr. Duyeon Kim with the Center for a New American Security, who is based in Seoul, to get her assessment of the fallout of President Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law.