The United States strengthens the JAROKUS, JAPHUS, and QUAD coalitions to counter China’s provocations ahead of the presidential election

On July 28-29, 2024, Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin visited Tokyo for talks on accelerating the institutionalization and strengthening of the JAROKUS and QUAD coalitions. Then, on July 30, they traveled to Manila to expand security cooperation with the Philippines.

Beyond the American election context, the talks in Tokyo took place against an unprecedented build-up of the PLA’s offensive capabilities in East Asia.

With a military budget estimated by the US Congress at $711 billion a year, China is increasing the number of nuclear and hypersonic weapons and rapidly expanding its naval and air forces.