Indo-Pacific

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Map highlighting the Indo-Pacific region, with a shaded area covering the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean. Surrounding continents including Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas are labeled, along with major bodies of water such as the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, and Philippine Sea.

President of China Xi Jinping in a dark suit and red tie speaking at a podium with two microphones.

Map of East Asia highlighting the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from the island of Taiwan. The strait is labeled in orange, and surrounding countries such as Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and India are shown for geographic context. An inset globe in the upper left marks the region's location within Asia.

President Joe Biden speaks at a podium with the presidential seal during his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.

A dense shoal of striped eel catfish with white whiskers and dark bodies featuring light stripes, swimming closely together in the Indo-Pacific ocean.

Map showing the Indo-Pacific region with major marine protected areas highlighted in purple across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The map labels specific reserves such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia, the Galapagos Marine Reserve in Ecuador, and several U.S. national monuments and reserves, indicating their locations and relative sizes. Surrounding continents including Asia, Australia, North America, and South America are partially visible for geographic context.

Map of the South China Sea region highlighting overlapping territorial claims by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. China's claim is shown by a red dashed line called the nine-dash line, enclosing much of the sea and key features like the Paracel Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and Spratly Islands. Each claimant country is shaded in a different color.

Indo-Pacific: Media

maritime region, Indian and Pacific oceans

Images

Map highlighting the Indo-Pacific region, with a shaded area covering the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean. Surrounding continents including Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas are labeled, along with major bodies of water such as the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, and Philippine Sea.

Indo-Pacific region

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.\Kenny Chmielewski

President of China Xi Jinping in a dark suit and red tie speaking at a podium with two microphones.

Xi Jinping

Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping is one of the primary political figures shaping the future...

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Map of East Asia highlighting the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from the island of Taiwan. The strait is labeled in orange, and surrounding countries such as Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and India are shown for geographic context. An inset globe in the upper left marks the region's location within Asia.

Taiwan Strait

Map of East Asia, indicating the Taiwan Strait.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Shinzo Abe

Shinzo Abe

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan was the first to develop the modern geopolitical...

Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet (https://japan.kantei.go.jp/98_abe/meibo/daijin/abe_e.html - cropped)

President Joe Biden speaks at a podium with the presidential seal during his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. Pres. Joe Biden

In 2022 the Biden administration initiated the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, intended...

Rob Carr/Getty Images

A dense shoal of striped eel catfish with white whiskers and dark bodies featuring light stripes, swimming closely together in the Indo-Pacific ocean.

Shoal of striped catfish

The Indo-Pacific contains the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world.

© stephan kerkhofs/Shutterstock.com

Map showing the Indo-Pacific region with major marine protected areas highlighted in purple across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The map labels specific reserves such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia, the Galapagos Marine Reserve in Ecuador, and several U.S. national monuments and reserves, indicating their locations and relative sizes. Surrounding continents including Asia, Australia, North America, and South America are partially visible for geographic context.

Marine Protected areas in the Indo-Pacific

Map of marine protected areas in the Indo-Pacific region.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of the South China Sea region highlighting overlapping territorial claims by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. China's claim is shown by a red dashed line called the nine-dash line, enclosing much of the sea and key features like the Paracel Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and Spratly Islands. Each claimant country is shaded in a different color.

China's 9-dash line in the South China Sea

Map of the South China Sea, indicating China's 9-dash line and countries with territorial...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski

Lloyd Austin

Lloyd Austin

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has played a key role in articulating U.S. policy...

U.S. Department of Defense

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