dominant power in the region

the dominant power in the region. Thus, Beijing works to erode U.S. power and influence in the region while seeking to avoid a direct military confrontation.23 China’s People’s Liberation Army can deny U.S. naval and air forces uncontested access to areas near the Chinese coast, and it can hold major U.S. air and naval weapons platforms at risk in East Asia and the Western Pacific.24 However, China will be hard-pressed during this decade to project power outside the so-called “second island chain” of containment (see figure).25 China is rapidly expanding its strategic missile force and its nuclear weapons arsenal ufabet