A region where US allies lose faith in Washington won’t necessarily embrace Beijing; it is a region more likely to reach for its own guns
3-MIN READ3-MINWenran JiangPublished: 8:30pm, 3 Apr 2026The dust and debris of the US-Israeli war on Iran have yet to settle, but its strategic shock waves have reached East Asia. From Tokyo to Taipei, a reassessment is under way. The conflict, intended to project American resolve, has been a brutal stress test for the US-led order – with catastrophic results for Washington’s credibility.Far from cementing its primacy, America’s misadventure has revealed a superpower that is overstretched, vulnerable and seen as an unreliable partner. This erosion of strength does not simplify Asia’s landscape; it incubates a more volatile environment that may paradoxically worsen China’s external security.
South Korean president admits Seoul cannot stop US from moving military assets
