ARTICLES

14 Oct 2025

Caught in the Sino-US Crossfire: ASEAN Needs to Act as One

Maria Monica Wihardja|Dennis Trinidad

The economic competition between China and the US portends both opportunities and challenges for Southeast Asia.

16 Jun 2025

US-China Negotiations in London Signal a Tough Road Ahead for Southeast Asia

Stephen Olson

Southeast Asian countries lack the personal rapport and leverage that have shaped US-China bargaining, and with US’ limited bandwidth, could find themselves on the outside looking in.

China-U.S. Relations Economy U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

29 Apr 2025

The Sino-US Trade War Presents Hard Choices for Southeast Asia

John Lee

In the ensuing Sino-US trade war, China, to use Trump’s lingo, has more cards to play than its economic rival.

China-U.S. Relations International Trade Trade US

16 Jan 2025

The Economic Implications of Donald Trump’s Presidency for Southeast Asia

Stephen Olson

Amid intensifying US-China tensions under Trump, technological advancements are heightening the relevance of economic security considerations, especially for products containing dual-use technologies. This holds important implications for Southeast Asian countries deeply embedded into regional and global supply chains.

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

23 Dec 2024

Trump’s Tariff Threats and Supply Chain Bifurcation: A Lose-Lose Proposition

Jayant Menon

Trump’s threat of tariffs on various countries including China could spark a 1930s-era trade war.

China-U.S. Relations U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy U.S.-ASEAN Relations

26 Nov 2024

Vietnam, China and Rerouting: When Perceptions Matter as Much as Reality

Nguyen Khac Giang

Vietnam’s growing trade surplus with the US strongly suggests that China uses Vietnam as a backdoor to dodge US tariffs. Such rerouting is actually lower than is imagined. Given that perceptions drive politics, Vietnam will likely still be caught in the Trump administration’s sights.

China-U.S. Relations China-Vietnam Relations Vietnam

30 Oct 2024

Finding the Sweet Spot Amidst Major Power Rivalry: The Case of Vinfast

Angel Hsu

VinFast, the electric vehicle manufacturer from Vietnam, is making inroads into the US. This would help, in not an insignificant way, the US to attain its climate change goals.

China China-U.S. Relations EV Cars US

29 Oct 2024

Sino-US Competition: Southeast Asia Retains Agency

Stephen Olson

Amid intensified Sino-US competition, Southeast Asia countries are mistakenly seen as pawns on the geopolitical chessboard. In reality, they possess a fair degree of agency.

China China-U.S. Relations US

22 Oct 2024

Amid Intensifying Sino-US Rivalry, Southeast Asia Can Help Bolster Regional Security

Lee Sue-Ann|William Choong

Southeast Asia can expect regional tensions to rise amid growing Sino-US competition. To preserve regional stability, Southeast Asian countries should work more closely with middle powers.

China China-U.S. Relations Southeast Asia US

14 Jun 2024

The Impacts of Supply Chain Reconfiguration on ASEAN Economies

Aufa Doarest|Maria Monica Wihardja

An examination of recent trade and FDI flows shows that ASEAN has been benefitting from the reconfiguration of global supply chains as a result of intensifying US-China strategic rivalry. But these gains could well be reversed if the US-China intensifies and leads to a sharp decoupling of global supply chains.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Economic Development Technology U.S.