Why Eurasia, Not the Indo-Pacific, Matters Most in Next Phase of Taiwan Deterrence
The article argues that the next phase of U.S.-China competition will likely center on the Eurasian landmass rather than the Indo-Pacific, as China builds overland energy corridors to reduce its vulnerability to maritime disruption. It cites Chinese scholar Zhang Jie, who linked China's dependence on the Strait of Malacca to its freedom of action on Taiwan, and notes that recent Hormuz disruptions have underscored the urgency of this effort. China has since built pipelines such as the Central Asia-China gas pipeline, and in the second quarter of 2026 it reduced seaborne crude imports by 32 percent while drawing down strategic reserves only modestly.
Why it matters: This matters for the theme of energy security because China's growing overland energy resilience could embolden Beijing to take greater risks over Taiwan.