ARTICLES

26 May 2025

ASEAN’s Trade in Services with the US and China: A Hidden Casualty of Trump’s 2.0 Tariffs

Tham Siew Yean|Maria Monica Wihardja

In services trade, ASEAN has maintained a deficit with the US and a surplus with China. The Trump tariff fixation with goods has omitted services, to the detriment of all sides.

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

5 Jun 2024

Southeast Asia and Trump 2.0(?): Agency Amid Anxiety

Ford Hart

Southeast Asian countries exercised significant agency in protecting their geopolitical interests during Donald Trump’s presidential administration. They would be likely to do so again if there were a second.

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

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the annual U.S.-ASEAN Summit via video link from the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. According to the White House, Biden talked about efforts "to end the COVID-19 pandemic, address the climate crisis, promote economic growth, and address a range of other regional challenges and opportunities.

3 Oct 2023

Hard Truths in the Strategic Conversation between the United States and Southeast Asia

Lee Sue-Ann

Amid intensifying Sino-US competition, the strategic conversation between the United States and Southeast Asia is in danger of being stuck in a rut. While messages from the region's leaders to their American counterparts have been received, the latter see these refrains as hackneyed. It is high time for Southeast Asia to internalise the shifts in Uncle Sam's approach to the region and proceed accordingly.

China-Southeast Asia relations Southeast Asia U.S. U.S.-ASEAN Relations

21 Sep 2023

Biden Administration and Southeast Asia: Realpolitik the Name of the Game

Hoang Thi Ha|Cha Hae Won

As competition with China becomes an organising principle of American foreign policy, realpolitik is the name of the game in U.S. engagement with Southeast Asia.

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

28 Aug 2023

Why Hanoi May Agree to a Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Le Hong Hiep

If Hanoi agrees to a comprehensive strategic partnership with the U.S., it would represent a remarkable breakthrough in bilateral ties. Still, such a partnership would not represent a significant shift in Hanoi’s foreign policy.

U.S. U.S.-ASEAN Relations Vietnam

1 Jun 2023

Southeast Asian Views on the United States: Perceptions Versus Objective Reality

Lee Sue-Ann

5-year data trends from the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute’s State of Southeast Asia annual survey suggest that ASEAN countries have remained ambivalent about the US’ regional leadership role on multiple fronts. While there is still a reservoir of goodwill towards the US in the region, this is being depleted in some countries and cannot be taken for granted.

State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S.-ASEAN Relations

13 Feb 2023

Washington and Southeast Asia in 2023: How Devolving Power to Line Agencies Might Make a Difference

Zack Cooper

Although much attention has focused on the shift in power from Democrats to Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, the empowering of line departments and agencies to take more responsibility for Asia policy could be just as important. And it could prove to be a good thing for the region.

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