ARTICLES

7 Jun 2022

Scaling the Shangri-La Dialogue

James Crabtree

In this episode, William Choong, managing editor of Fulcrum, talks to James Crabtree, executive director of International Institute for Strategic Studies (Asia), the London-headquartered think tank which runs the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.

17 May 2022

U.S.-ASEAN: Summitry Is Not a Strategy

Sharon Seah|William Choong

The United States hit all the right notes when it hosted ASEAN leaders in Washington last week. The fact remains, however, that Washington has an uphill climb if it wants to catch up with Beijing’s economic momentum in Southeast Asia.

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

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.

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

23 Dec 2021

Southeast Asian Militaries: The Need to Boost Strategic Autonomy

Evan A. Laksmana

In an era of great power competition, Southeast Asian countries can better defend their autonomy by examining their own strategic planning and operational requirements first. Only then can they better define their military engagement with Washington.

Defence Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Security U.S. Foreign Policy

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

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

4 Oct 2021

The Quad and the Indo-Pacific: Going Slow to Go Further

William Choong

In recent years, the Quad has gained momentum in response to growing Chinese assertiveness. But a lower key strategy is advised to allay regional concerns that ASEAN’s centrality will be undermined by a minilateral arrangement helmed by external powers.

ASEAN Australia India Indo-Pacfic Japan Quad U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

23 Sep 2021

After 70 Years, It’s Time to Modernise the US-Philippines Alliance

Ian Storey

The US-Philippines alliance is back on track. In an era where China has increasingly challenged Manila’s maritime rights in the South China Sea, however, Washington needs to contemplate an upgrade to their mutual defence treaty.

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

3 Sep 2021

In Vietnam, the Afghanistan Spectre Fails to Haunt a Pro-America Audience Online

Dien Nguyen An Luong

Many observers have drawn parallels between the U.S.’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and memories of the “Fall of Saigon”. But Vietnamese reactions to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent visit there shows continued favourable sentiments towards the U.S.

China Social Media U.S. Foreign Policy U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam