The proposed Quadrilateral Security Initiative 2.0 is an informal maritime alliance of the United States, India, Japan and Australia, which primarily involves co-operation in the Indo-Pacific.

China gave up its emperors centuries ago but now it appears to be preparing to anoint a new one — its current president Xi Jinping.

In Afghanistan, China recognises several economic and strategic opportunities to advance its goals in the region and beyond, including the opportunity to acquire access to much of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth.

This Strategic Insight looks beyond our region and beyond China’s One Belt, One Road Initiative (BRI) to highlight how China is expanding its influence in Africa and the Middle East.

Liberal democracies in proximity to China in the Asia-Pacific region serve as good examples of what may await Europe if China further intensifies its efforts, with Australia being a particularly helpful bellwether.