US–China Rivalry and the Future of Global Security
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This paper examines how intensifying US–China strategic rivalry, centered on competition in emerging technologies, is reshaping Indo-Pacific regional security and global governance. Drawing on elite interviews and qualitative document analysis, it argues that competition in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and 5G functions as a strategic multiplier that amplifies military and economic rivalry. Findings show that Indo-Pacific states pursue pragmatic hedging strategies to preserve strategic autonomy, while global governance faces growing strain and normative fragmentation as parallel technological standards and economic blocs emerge. The study demonstrates that technological rivalry transforms US–China competition from a bilateral contest into a systemic challenge that reshapes power hierarchies, alliance politics, and the foundations of contemporary global order.
