There’s been plenty of coverage of the growing tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly when it comes to the Indo Pacific. In this episode we are going to consider how other countries are responding to that friction, and in turn, where that leaves the current balance of power in the region.  Are countries feeling pressure to take sides? What impact are new alliances such as the Quad and AUKUS having? And how has Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affected calculations in capitals across the Indo Pacific? Joining us to consider such questions we have two experts on international relations and strategy.  Marjorie Vanbaelinghem is the director of France’s Institute for Strategic Research of the Ecole Militaire, and a diplomat who has previously served as France’s consul general in Bangalore.  And Aries Arugay is Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at the University of Philippines Dillman in Manila.