Author of the article: Louis Delvoie Publishing date: Feb 13, 2021 • February 13, 2021 • 6 minute read An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter launches during flight operations aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the South China Sea on July 17, 2020. Reuters Article content Last week, I took a wide-ranging look at the Middle East in 2021. This week, I take an even wider-ranging look at the Asian continent. Asian realities this year will continue to be dominated by the policies and activities of China. As the largest country in the region, with a population of over 1.4 billion people, its influence will be felt everywhere. Its immediate neighbours will remain vigilant over its ever more aggressive stances in the South China Sea. Taiwan will remain apprehensive over its increasing military activities in the Taiwan Strait, including repeated incursions into its air space of Chinese military aircraft. India will continue to strengthen its defences along its long Himalayan border with China in the face of renewed Chinese military activity in the area. And Japan will have to work hard to assert its sovereignty over islands claimed by China in the East China Sea. There is little sign that there will be any relaxation of tensions in east Asia in the year ahead.