Over the past decade, the concept of the Indo-Pacific has emerged as a crucial hub for exchanges involving China, the United States, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Southeast Asian countries, and notably France, the world’s second-largest maritime power due to its overseas territories.
The Indo-Pacific reflects the geopolitical shift of the early 21st century. Once merely a passage and meeting point between civilizations, it now signifies a major geostrategic battleground from the Horn of Africa to the west coast of the Americas. Driven by China’s ambitions and the increasing maritime nature of global trade, this region accounts for 90% of container shipping, hosting vast resources, opportunities, and significant rivalries. These tensions are closely tied to power competition, Xi Jinping’s territorial claims, particularly concerning Taiwan and the South China Sea, climate change impacts, illegal fishing, piracy, and various illicit trades thriving in the area.
This book helps us understand this expansive zone and its numerous economic, cultural, diplomatic, and strategic challenges. Territorial conflicts here could potentially escalate into a crisis with unpredictable consequences worldwide. Additionally, serving as a biodiversity hotspot, a testing ground for ocean governance, and fostering unprecedented collaborations, the Indo-Pacific embodies the new dynamics of the world where France aims to play a role.
