U.S.-China-Russia Tripolarity and Energy Security in the Indo-Pacific: Focusing on Natural Gas and Nuclear Power

Abstract

This study comparatively analyzes the capabilities and national interests of the US, China, and Russia in the field of natural gas and nuclear power using Randall Schweller’s tripolarity as the analytical framework. Through this comparative analysis, this study aims to infer how the structure of the US-China-Russia tripolarity will affect energy security in the Indo-Pacific region. Based on the results of a comparative analysis of the capabilities and national interests of the three superpowers in the natural gas and nuclear power fields, this paper argues that the structure of the US-China-Russia tripolarity can further accelerate power restructuring in the Indo-Pacific region through energy. It is predicted that in both the natural gas and nuclear power fields, where none of the three superpowers has an overwhelming advantage, there is room for energy security issues to be used as a means to accelerate power restructuring, as the wills to revise the status quo are colliding. This is also a warning that the energy issues may eventually escalate into a factor that could shake peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.