ARTICLES

7 Apr 2022

Singapore and the United States: Speaking Hard Truths as a Zhengyou

William Choong

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s recent visit to the United States highlights a unique dynamic in the bilateral relationship: Singapore’s ability to speak frankly and candidly to its superpower partner.

24 Mar 2022

U.S.-China Rivalry in Regional Economic Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges for ASEAN

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

China’s membership in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the prospect of its accession to the CPTPP further increase China’s role in supporting the rules-based multilateral system to which the U.S. is making a steady but selective comeback.

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

25 Feb 2022

Chinese Membership in the CPTPP: Greater Benefits Than Downside Risks

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

The State of Southeast Asia survey finds that, on balance, a majority of Southeast Asians view Chinese CPTPP membership positively, for the world economy and for China. 53.2 per cent of ASEAN respondents perceive that having China in the CPTPP will provide economic benefits to China, the United States, and other CPTPP partners.

Asean Trade China-U.S. Relations CPTPP

3 Dec 2021

The USS Connecticut Incident: Silent Service, Turbulent Clash?

Ian Storey

A recent incident involving a US Navy nuclear-powered submarine underscores the danger of an increasingly congested underwater environment in the South China Sea.

China-U.S. Relations South China Sea

23 Nov 2021

US-China Relations: Guardrails and Third Rails

William Choong

There is much virtue for smaller states, particularly those in Southeast Asia, in upholding high principles and expressing a desire for a rules-based regional order. These elements, however, are premised on continued stability in Sino-US relations, which is not guaranteed.

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

8 Nov 2021

Why US Rivalry with China Will Endure: Implications for Southeast Asia

Robert Sutter

Despite the Biden government’s efforts to improve relations with Southeast Asia, considerable domestic constraints hinder Washington from joining multilateral economic groups or de-emphasising human rights concerns to compete more effectively with China in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Cold War South China Sea Southeast Asia U.S.

27 Oct 2021

Cajoling China and the US Towards Peace, Not War

Joergen Oerstroem Moeller

The European Union and ASEAN are supporters of a rules-based global system. As such, they can use their collective weight to persuade Washington and Beijing to focus less on their bilateral tensions and more on solving contemporary problems.

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

5 Oct 2021

Twenty Years On: Reflections on The Aftermath of 9/11 and The New Era of Geo-Politics

Daljit Singh

Twenty years after the historic 9/11 attacks on the United States, the threat of terrorism has largely been contained and a new era of great power competition has returned. States in Southeast Asia need to have a deep appreciation of what drives China and the US in order to maintain agency amid geopolitical flux.

China-U.S. Relations Southeast Asia U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

11 Aug 2021

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s Southeast Asia Tour: Assurances and Dividends

William Choong|Hoang Thi Ha|Le Hong Hiep|Ian Storey

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to three Southeast Asian countries in July 2021 was aimed at reaffirming America’s commitment to regional alliances and partnerships amid concerns of US neglect of the region in the first six months of the Biden administration.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Quad U.S.

10 Aug 2021

US Challenges in Southeast Asia Under Biden

Robert Sutter

The Biden Administration has reinvigorated its approach towards Southeast Asia. This, however, will be limited by important US priorities and Southeast Asian reluctance to irk Beijing.

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