INTRODUCTION 7
CHINA–UNITED STATES: THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE RIVALRY REMAIN UNCHANGED 11
TAIWAN: AN INDISPENSABLE PARTNER FOR WASHINGTON IN ITS RIVALRY WITH BEIJING 14
JAPAN: CONSOLIDATING ITS STATUS AS A KEY ALLY 17
SOUTH KOREA IN THE FACE OF TRUMP’S RETURN: STRATEGIC CHALLENGES AND NATIONAL UNCERTAINTIES 19
NORTH KOREA: A NEW STRATEGIC REALITY 21
THE US–PHILIPPINES ALLIANCE: THE LINCHPIN OF TRUMP II’S SOUTHEAST ASIA STRATEGY 23
INDIA–US TOWARDS NEW HEIGHTS? 26
AUSTRALIA: LOCKING IN THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH WASHINGTON 29
TRUMP II AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: STRATEGIC CONTINUITY IN THE FACE OF CHINA 32