ARTICLES

3 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Taking Southeast Asia’s Pulse on Geopolitics

Sharon Seah

Some Southeast Asians appear to have warmed to Trump. This could be based on the assessment that his policies might not harm the region as much.

21 Feb 2025

US Suspension of Foreign Aid: Will China Fill the Void?

Hoang Thi Ha|Cha Hae Won

As the US shuts down its supply of foreign assistance, some Southeast Asian countries are looking at China to fill the gap. But given China’s different approach to aid, it cannot step in as a direct substitute for America.

ASEAN-China Relations ASEAN-U.S. Relations Economic Development Foreign Aid

7 Jan 2025

Preparing the ASEAN Economic Community for a Securitised World

Julia Tijaja|Muhammad Habib Abiyan Dzakwan

To prepare for the ratcheting up of geoeconomic tensions, ASEAN members should seek strength in numbers and look to their own community to navigate difficult terrain in the coming years.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations ASEAN-U.S. Relations Security Trade

25 Nov 2024

Can ASEAN Power Renewable Energy Diplomacy?

Mirza Sadaqat Huda

ASEAN needs to overhaul its practice of energy diplomacy in Southeast Asia to address the challenges facing energy transition in the region.

ASEAN-China Relations ASEAN-U.S. Relations Renewable Energy

2 Sep 2024

China Strengthens Higher Educational Ties with Southeast Asian Nations

Xue Song|Brice Tseen Fu Lee

In higher education, China and Southeast Asia enjoy a symbiotic relationship.

ASEAN-China Relations China Education Southeast Asia

2 Aug 2024

Regional Responses to China’s Community of Shared Future for Mankind

In March 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the concept of building a “community with a shared future for mankind” as a central tenet of his “Thought on Diplomacy” with Chinese characteristics. This ambitious vision encompasses more recent programmes such as the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI), and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). To date, seven ASEAN countries, excluding Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines, have endorsed the initiative.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations ASEANFocus China

26 Jul 2024

Southeast Asian Perceptions of China: Beijing’s Growing Power is Recognised, but Feared

Lee Sue-Ann|William Choong

Data from a multi-year trend analysis of Southeast Asian perceptions of China suggest that the region remains apprehensive about China’s growing power and influence. Yet in the face of greater uncertainty over the future of the United States’ leadership role in the region, the preference has been to try to keep the peace with China.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations China U.S.

3 Apr 2024

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Navigating China’s Influence: Insights from the State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey

Joanne Lin

Southeast Asians recognise China’s burgeoning influence in the region, but there are nuances to the geopolitical dynamics. The region needs to manage its relationship with the rising global power; China needs to address the lack of confidence that it will "do the right thing”.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations China State of Southeast Asia Survey

5 Jan 2024

China’s “Community of Shared Future” with Southeast Asia: Behind the Numbers

Lye Liang Fook

Seven ASEAN member states have signed on to China’s “community of shared future” more for mutually beneficial cooperation than because they subscribe fully to the Chinese vision of a new regional order. The remaining three may prefer practical cooperation to enmeshment in China’s grand strategy and discourse.

ASEAN-China Relations China