Toward Decline
China is turning the waters east of Taiwan grey - Lowy Institute
GNews: PLA navy·2026-06-18PLAP5: Strategic DecouplingP6: Defence SurgeP7: Alliance ArchitectureP8: Northern Arc
Why it matters
China's grey-zone military operations east of Taiwan represent a concrete escalation in PLA assertiveness that directly threatens the Indo-Pacific balance and Australian strategic interests. This development increases pressure on Australia's defence alliance (particularly AUKUS and Quad partnerships), tests the credibility of US commitment to regional security, and underscores the urgency of Australian maritime defence capability (coastal missile systems, submarine deployments) and strategic decoupling efforts.
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