Introduction to the Special Issue-The Asia-Pacific Middle Powers' Strategic Options in the Era of China–US Rivalry

Introduction to the Special Issue-The Asia-Pacific Middle Powers' Strategic Options in the Era of China–US Rivalry

Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a flood of discussions and debates about rivalry between China and the United States. China's rise has brought monumental changes to the global arena, and international actors in the Asia-Pacific feel the impact the strongest. The trade war between China and the US that began in 2018 has once again redirected the discipline of International Relations (IR) toward rivalry between great powers. The analogy of the Peloponnesian War is frequently being applied to discuss the essence of China-US rivalry and predict its potential outcomes. While most have recognized the importance of this competition, its inevitable influences must be further investigated and analyzed from the perspectives of other actors in the international arena.