In this Lowy Institute Report Nonresident Fellows Linda Jakobson and Rory Medcalf identify both the real differences in interests between China and other powers in the Indo-Pacific, but also the sharp divergences in perceptions regarding China’s maritime strategic objectives.

Key findings

• Regional security is being adversely affected by a worsening perception gap between China and other regional powers in the Indo-Pacific.
• What China sees as the legitimate defence of its interests others in the region see as assertive behaviour.
• There are some real differences in interests between China and other regional players in the Indo-Pacific, but tensions can also be moderated by efforts to address the perception gap.