The concern about conflicts Asia has focused on North Korea. But the longer-lasting undercurrent of tension, which may yet lead to hostilities, has been around China and surrounding states that believe Beijing is trying to spread its hegemony in the South China Sea.

Throughout last year, while Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un traded public insults, Beijing has been quietly bolstering its military presence.

Tokyo, meanwhile, is planning to convert some of its Izumo-Class helicopter carriers into aircraft carriers, the country’s first in 80 years, making them capable of using fixed-wing warplanes.

At the same time countries like Japan, Australia, Vietnam and India, are quietly discussing defence cooperation.