Includes bibliographical references and index.

SECTION A: THE INDO-PACIFIC CONSTRUCT -- Introduction / Josukutty C A and Joyce Sabina Lobo -- The Geo-Politics of the Indo-Pacific: Perceptions, Opportunities and Challenges / Srikanth Kondapalli -- The Indo-Pacific as the New Theatre of 'Cold War' Politics: Challenges and Regional Responses / Shankari Sundararaman -- From Quad 1.0 to Quad 2.0: The Persisting Discourse / S.Y. Surendra Kumar -- SECTION B: CHINA AND THE QUAD NATION STATES -- China in the Indo-Pacific: Perspectives and Interests / Huo Wenle -- Russia in the Indo Pacific through Multipolarity, Eurasian Integration and the RFE / Joyce Sabina Lobo -- The US in the Indo-Pacific: Interests and Strategy / Nanda Kishor M S -- Japan's Interests and Strategies in the Indo-Pacific / Anil Kumar P -- India's Interests and Strategies in the Indo-Pacific / Uma Purushothaman -- Indo-Pacific: Australian Middle Power Ambitions and Dilemmas / Madhusudhan. B -- SECTION C: KEY ASEAN NATION STATES AND VULNERABLE NEIGHBOURS OF CHINA -- Malaysia's Responses to the Indo-Pacific: Between Trepidations and Aspirations / Ivy Kwek -- Singapore's Strategy in the Indo-Pacific / Vignesh Ram -- Indonesia in the Indo-Pacific: The Rise of a Strategic Geopolitical Power / Vignesh Ram -- Vietnam in the Changing Strategic Environment of Indo-Pacific / Aswani R.S. -- South Korean Approach to Indo-Pacific: Engaging Without Endorsing / Jojin V. John -- Taiwan in the Indo- Pacific / Suresh K -- Conclusion / Joyce Sabina Lobo and Josukutty CA.

"The book offers vivid analysis of new geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific in terms of big power rivalry between US-China and country wise perspectives situating largely within the late 2000s and culminates with developments of the COVID-19 period. The great power shift marked by the rise of China and the relative decline of the US poses a serious challenge to the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region and the world order in general. Ironically the play of realism in the region is stymied by broad partnerships of key countries that utilize the liberal approaches of cooperation with both rivals- the USA and China. The book captures the mosaic of stakeholders-rivals the US and China along with Russia; other QUAD members Australia, India, and Japan; key ASEAN members, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam; vulnerable states in East Asia viz., Taiwan and South Korea; and groupings including the ASEAN and QUAD- that constitutes the new world politics of the Indo-pacific. The volume will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of Indo-Pacific studies, global politics and international relations"--