China’s defence and security presence beyond the first island chain is no longer emerging, it is now a defining feature of the Indo-Pacific strategic environment. Across the South-West Pacific, Indian Ocean and Australia’s maritime approaches, Beijing is steadily building a pattern of access, presence and influence that is reshaping regional security dynamics.

This section examines how and why China is expanding its security engagement across these regions, the tools and actions it is using, and what this means for regional states. What emerges is a pattern engagement that blends military power, paramilitary forces, policing cooperation and civilian capabilities. Together, these tools enable China to build familiarity with operating environments, deepen relationships with regional partners, and normalise its presence far from home waters.

This section explores the evolving landscape of the Indo-Pacific. It maps China’s activities, analyses regional responses, and considers how current trends may develop in the years ahead. The central question is not whether China will be present across the Indo-Pacific, but how that presence will shape the region’s future security order.