The South Pacific: A War to Start All Wars?

China has intensified its strategic onslaught into the South Pacific since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. Despite the theoretical strategic advantage of the AUKUS alliance of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, momentum in the Indo-Pacific has begun to move in favor of Beijing and away from Washington and its allies. It is a transformation that has not featured in the headlines of any Western media in recent months. Part of the revived momentum of Beijing’s strategic activities reflects the domestic need of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping to show virility and…