The recent Shangri-La Dialogue has highlighted a significant escalation of tensions between the United States and China, with both sides trading barbs over issues ranging from trade to territorial sovereignty.
The US-China trade war, which had appeared to be subsiding after a Geneva agreement, has reignited following President Donald Trump's introduction of discriminatory measures against China, including export controls on AI chips and visa revocations for Chinese students. This move has been met with strong opposition from Beijing, which claims that these actions undermine the consensus reached between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their January 17 call.
The Shangri-La Dialogue itself saw heated exchanges between Chinese and Philippine officials, with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. sparking a response from China over his comments on territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea. The Chinese foreign ministry accused the US of ignoring regional calls for peace and promoting a Cold War mentality through the remarks of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
China has also deployed Typhon launchers in the Philippines, which it contests with sovereignty over South China Sea islands.