Energy
South China Sea Escalation — The Spiral That Rewrites Asian Security
⚡ FAST READ1-min read Simultaneous US and Chinese military exercises in the South China Sea in early 2026 have triggered the most dangerous escalation spiral since the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, directly threatening Japan's energy lifeline and forcing Tokyo into an irreversible defense posture shift. ── 3 Key Points ───────── * • The