DefinePK

Abstract

This article focuses on ‘Pivot to Asia’ and ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) as two competing paradigms defining the great power relations in the evolving regional and global order. The article is based on the premise that a dialectic relationship exists between the United States and China, manifested through the pivot to Asia and global rebalancing by China. The paper investigates the contours of both strategies using the theoretical framework of hegemonic stability theory to provide empirical answers to the assertive behavior of the United States as the status-quo power and China as the rising power. The central argument of the paper revolves around the renewed United States strategic focus in the Indo-Pacific, which is creating perceptions of containment in China. In doing so, the article investigates the evolving power dynamics and role of the United States in shaping the strategies and alliances among the regional actors and Chinese counterbalance strategies through economic incentives and developmental projects such as BRI. The research is an original contribution to unveiling the saga of the United States pivot to Asia and counterbalance by China for enhancing their spheres of influence in maintaining hegemony.