The coronavirus pandemic has weakened China’s power in the Indo-Pacific, and the region’s deepening security uncertainties present a “significant” risk of war, the Lowy Institute said in a report on Sunday.

US allies in the region and key balancing powers such as India have never been more dependent on American capacity and willingness to sustain a military and strategic counterweight in response to China’s rise, said the Sydney-based think tank.

At the same time, Beijing has sought to dissuade Southeast Asian countries from joining the US coalition, while upgrading its military exchanges with Russia and Pakistan as well as North Korea and creating a formidable trio of China-aligned nuclear-armed powers in the region.

“The depth of hostilities, the breadth of US-China competition and the presence of multiple potential flashpoints means the risk of war is significant,” the report said.