1 SAGE Intelligence Brief – - CHINA'S RISING INFLUENCE AND THREAT IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION

The island-building program in the South China Sea, starting in 2013, raised alarm, with President Obama's administration failing to formulate a robust response due to distractions in the Middle East. [...] Currently the only known overseas Chinese base of operations is a small naval detachment in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, where it shares port access with the United States, France, Italy, and Japan for anti-piracy duties in the adjacent Arabian Sea. [...] Implications for Global Power Dynamics: China's ambition to challenge American economic and military dominance is evident through its involvement in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa economic grouping) and aggressive military posturing limited to the East China Sea (ECS), the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea (SCS) – China’s ‘near seas’ is an important consideration. [...] As tensions persist, the evolving dynamics in the region demand continuous monitoring and strategic recalibrations to maintain stability in the face of China's growing influence. [...] SAGE is partnered with Trends Research & Advisory in Abu Dhabi UAE, the International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC) in Manila, the Philippines, AsiaPower Watch in Paris, France and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.