Incremental Strategy of Chinese Competition

China employs a gradual approach to competition in the Pacific that seeks to erode U.S. advantages through strategic positioning rather than direct confrontation. This involves leveraging tactics such as coercive diplomacy, weaponized migration, and economic manipulation to create favorable conditions for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Recent incursions into areas like Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands illustrate this strategy, utilizing loopholes and criminal networks to enhance Beijing's leverage without escalation. By effectively embedding themselves in key regions, the CCP is not only testing U.S. responses but also establishing pathways for future influence operations.