ARTICLES

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.

20 Jan 2023

Avoiding Divots in the U.S. Pivot to Asia

William Choong

While the Americans have made noticeable progress in their “pivot” to Asia, the crux of successful regional engagement rests on Washington’s ability to work with and around China’s indisputable links and influence in this part of the world, while managing its own relationship with Beijing.

Indo-Pacfic U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

22 Dec 2022

When the Rule-Maker Breaks the Rules

Zack Cooper

The United States often stresses the need to uphold the rules-based international order. With its recent economic actions, however, the advocate of the rules may be guilty of undermining them.

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

16 Nov 2022

The G20 Summit: Who Makes the World’s Rules?

Zack Cooper

The Group of 7 are relatively aligned in their perceptions of global challenges, particularly when it comes to strategic competitors such as China and Russia, but the same perceptions do not hold true when it comes to the remaining members of the bigger Group of 20.

G20 G7 U.S. Foreign Policy

28 Oct 2022

The Fundamental Tension in Biden’s National Security Strategy

Zack Cooper

Washington’s new National Security Strategy has been carefully crafted, but the document hosts a number of inherent tensions. Foremost among them is the fact that putting democracy at the center of a strategy that is increasingly Asia-focused is ill-advised.

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

12 Oct 2022

What the New U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN Can Do

Joanne Lin

Ambassador Abraham’s new mandate in ASEAN, at these most challenging of times, will be extremely vital. He must cultivate strategic trust, and balance the interests of ten diverse countries against the U.S.’ vested interests in the Indo-Pacific.

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

5 Aug 2022

Pelosi Visit to Taiwan: Lasting Impact on Southeast Asia

David Arase

Following Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China has sought to bully the island with a series of import bans and a de facto blockade. Southeast Asian countries should take this to heart.

China-U.S. Relations South China Sea Taiwan U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

5 Aug 2022

On the United States, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and US Freedom of Navigation Operations

Robert Beckman

The US has not become a party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) despite the overwhelming support for US accession by all American government agencies, major interest groups. This has been a serious impediment to the US’ credibility in promoting and enforcing a rules-based maritime order.

South China Sea U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy UNCLOS

29 Jul 2022

How Southeast Asia Will Benefit from the G7’s Infrastructure and Investment Drive

Choi Shing Kwok

Critics have pilloried the Group of Seven’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment for its lack of scale and tardiness. But Southeast Asian countries should welcome an alternative source of capital for much-needed infrastructure projects in the region.

Foreign Direct Investment G7 Infrastructure U.S. Foreign Policy

8 Jun 2022

It Takes Two to Tango: Vietnam-US Relations in the New Context

Hong-Kong Nguyen|Pham-Muoi Nguyen

Vietnam’s delicate balancing act between major powers suggests that it is unlikely to advance a relationship with one power at the expense of another. Instead, it will try to maintain an independent position and promote ties with all powers, where possible.

International Relations U.S. Foreign Policy U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam