Asia-Pacific
Chinese missile tests cast long shadow over Pacific Islands
At the end of this year's summit, 16 of 18 states endorsed a statement expressing 'concern' with Beijing's actions
September 18, 2026
At the end of this year's summit, 16 of 18 states endorsed a statement expressing 'concern' with Beijing's actions
The secretary of state met with officials from both countries after a fight in the South China Sea
States in the region agree that Beijing's maritime claims are extreme, but they won't join Washington in condemning them
Imagine a globe-spanning naval battle with both sides interdicting commerce, a collapse in Asian trade, mounting losses, far worse than the current Iran war
This signals an expanding American footprint and risk of being pulled into tensions with China
Two recent incidents in the South China Sea highlight the potential for a real crisis and Washington is not helping
