India deepens Indo-Pacific defence tiesIndo-Pacific defence ties at Singapore dialogue
India’s defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a series of bilateral meetings in Singapore on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 on May 29 and May 30.
The talks with the United States, Australia, Nato officials and European partners focused on defence cooperation, maritime security and regional stability, underscoring New Delhi’s push to widen its security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
- Singapore hosts the Shangri-La Dialogue because its location lets rival powers meet on neutral ground.
- Australia and India upgraded their ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2020.
- The Indo-Pacific concept gained prominence as maritime competition intensified across Asian sea lanes.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
The United States adopts a sharper great-power competition strategy focused on China
