ARTICLES

19 Dec 2025

Reading ASEAN’s Sentiments in a Year of Crosswinds

Joanne Lin|Jasmine Yeo

Joanne Lin and Jasmine Yeo show how insights from two major regional surveys in 2025 capture the forces shaping ASEAN’s confidence in a year of shifting global winds.

15 Aug 2025

What Can Timor-Leste Bring to ASEAN?

Julia Lau|Sharon Seah

The debut of Timorese respondents in the 2025 State of Southeast Asia survey reveals their sentiments pertaining to a challenging geopolitical landscape and hints at the potential value that the incoming eleventh member can bring to ASEAN.

ASEAN State of Southeast Asia Survey Timor-Leste

27 Jun 2025

The Elusive Code: Why ASEAN Needs a New Playbook for the South China Sea

Joanne Lin|Pou Sothirak

The Code of Conduct (COC) negotiations between ASEAN and China have reached an impasse, hindered by legal ambiguities, strategic divergences, and ASEAN’s internal divisions. ASEAN must move away from a binary approach that equates success with legal binds, and instead explore more pragmatic alternatives.

ASEAN Summit ASEAN-China Relations Code of Conduct South China Sea State of Southeast Asia Survey

15 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Turbulent Waters Remain Top of Mind

Hoang Thi Ha|Eugene R.L. Tan

China has sought to paint a narrative about a peaceful situation in the South China Sea. But Southeast Asian respondents to the State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025 beg to differ.

ASEAN China South China Sea State of Southeast Asia Survey

9 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Making the EU a Credible Economic Hedge for ASEAN

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Against a more uncertain global economic backdrop, the European Union and ASEAN face greater urgency to strengthen economic engagement and strategic partnerships.

Economy European Union Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey

8 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Beijing Retains Considerable Weight in Regional Perceptions

Sharon Seah|Eugene R.L. Tan

Despite some apprehension about its actions, Beijing continues to retain considerable weight among Southeast Asian elites. This should improve if China learns to temper its assertiveness, particularly in the South China Sea.

China Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey US

4 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Betting on the Bulldozer: Why (Most of) Southeast Asia is Warming Up to Trump 2.0

Joanne Lin|William Choong

The US president’s tough leadership, reputation as a dealmaker and expectation that he may pay more attention to the region seems to be winning over ASEAN countries.

ASEAN ASEAN-US Relations State of Southeast Asia Survey US

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.

ASEAN-China Relations ASEAN-US Relations State of Southeast Asia Survey

9 Oct 2024

US Not Walking the Talk in Southeast Asia

Joanne Lin

President Joe Biden is, once again, not attending the ASEAN-US Summit. Though this is understandable given the upcoming election, the US seems to be losing ground in Southeast Asia amid growing Chinese influence.

ASEAN Summit Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey US

20 May 2024

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Why the Russia-Ukraine War Continues to Fret Southeast Asia

Ian Storey

Despite the Russia-Ukraine war’s geographical distance from Southeast Asia, the conflict continues to be a major concern for the region’s elite, especially in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

ASEAN ASEAN-Russia Relations International Relations Russia State of Southeast Asia Survey