In new battle for the Pacific, US and China force regional states to take sides | Simon Tisdall

Xi Jinping's aggressive stance and wolf-warrior' diplomacy drive the Philippines and other vulnerable countries into Washington's arms

US efforts to counter Chinese military expansionism and political influence in the Indo-Pacific took another significant step forward last week with an agreement to deepen defence and security ties with the Philippines.

Yet US president Joe Biden's success in developing bilateral and multilateral alliances may have more to do with growing wariness across the region about Beijing than a sudden desire for closer partnership with Washington.