Fears of Hormuz-like chokehold by China: Where India stands amid global churn | Point Blank by Shishir Gupta

st East Asia Summit on July 22, 2026, with 19 participating countries, reinforced the Indo-Pacific as a central strategic theatre.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio repeatedly referenced the Indo-Pacific Command, indicating continuity in Washington's regional framing.

Quad foreign ministers met twice in 2026 (May 26 and July 22), with another meeting planned, underscoring the Quad's ongoing relevance despite Trump's G2 rhetoric.

ASEAN and other East Asia participants, excluding China, signaled support for Philippines, Japan, and Southeast Asian states against Chinese expansionist moves.

South China Sea is moving toward a Hormuz-like chokepoint dynamic as China militarizes the area and pressures Japan under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the Philippines.