China’s periphery diplomacy and the G2 chimera

Former President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on China’s periphery — from South and Southeast Asia to the Pacific — challenges Beijing’s efforts to consolidate influence through initiatives like the Belt and Road and the Global Governance Initiative. As China seeks to shape its neighbourhood to bolster its great-power status and counter US pressure, Trump’s assertive moves risk undermining the notion of a US-China “G2” partnership. With Washington’s growing involvement in Pakistan, ASEAN, and beyond, China’s periphery has re-emerged as the central arena of strategic competition shaping the future balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.