Will Trump’s return signal stormier waters for Beijing in South China Sea?

Efforts on to assure allies ‘the US is still committed to upholding its role in the Indo-Pacific’ as ‘America first’ Trump waits in wings

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A Chinese military vessel keeps watch from afar as US warships take part in a maritime exercise with Japan in the Philippine Sea. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:00pm, 27 Nov 2024Updated: 12:18am, 28 Nov 2024

China will face increased pressure from the US and its Indo-Pacific allies, especially in the South China Sea, analysts have warned, citing Washington’s consolidation of regional security alliances – including the first five-way meeting of defence ministers.

The defence chiefs of the United States, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Australia held talks last week in Laos, on the sidelines of the Asean-Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADDM-Plus) security conference.

“Plus” refers to the eight dialogue partners, including China and the United States, that take part in the annual conference with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

According to the Pentagon, the five-nation meeting last Thursday “underscored their shared commitment to advance a vision for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where international law and sovereignty are respected”.

(From left) US defence chief Lloyd Austin, Australia’s Pat Conroy, Japan’s Gen Nakatani, the Philippines’ Gilberto C. Teodoro Jnr and South Korea’s Kim Yong-hyun, in Vientiane, Laos, on November 21. Photo: South Korean defence ministry via AP

The outgoing Biden administration has been trying to step up Indo-Pacific security and defence engagement ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.