Mr Lye Liang Fook is Senior Fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. He was previously Research Fellow and Assistant Director at the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore.
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Lye Liang Fook
Articles by Lye Liang Fook (18)
China’s Belt and Road Forum: Pressing Ahead Without the West
Lye Liang Fook
The lack of Western representation at the recent Belt and Road Forum has strengthened China’s resolve to push ahead with the Belt and Road Initiative. Beijing is using the Forum as a vehicle to engage the developing world in a more concerted manner.
China-Vietnam Party-to-Party Ties: A Tie that Binds
Lye Liang Fook
Vietnam appears to be drawing closer to the U.S. with the recent upgrade in ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This development, however, should not be overestimated as Vietnam-China relations, especially party-to-party ties, remain strong.
Personnel Changes at China’s Foreign Ministry: Beijing Will Stay the Course on Southeast Asia
Lye Liang Fook
Recent top-level changes at China’s foreign ministry are unlikely to affect Beijing’s foreign policy orientation towards Southeast Asia. The region remains important in light of China’s difficult relationship with the United States and other key countries.
China’s “Model” Relationship with Southeast Asia: Significance and Limitations
Lye Liang Fook
China’s “model” relationship with Southeast Asia has the effect of constraining the foreign policy options of these countries by prescribing the elements it would like to see in the relationship. A more realistic approach is for countries to grow their ties based on each country’s national interests.
Vietnam Not Veering Closer to United States or China
Lye Liang Fook|Ha Hoang Hop
It is not in Vietnam’s national interest to be overly dependent on China or the United States. Hanoi is expected to continue to press ahead with efforts to build on its ties with the two major powers as part of its multi-directional foreign policy. There are, however, limits to both approaches.