ARTICLES

1 Sep 2021

Retno Goes to Washington: Indonesia Sticks to ‘Free and Active’ Foreign Policy

Leo Suryadinata|William Choong

Washington has played up its growing relationship with Jakarta. For the latter, it is all about what Jakarta can get from the closer ties, and balancing its position within the Sino-US relationship.

27 Aug 2021

Biden After Afghanistan: Hitting the Buffers in Southeast Asia

Robert Sutter

The Biden Administration has sought to re-engage with Southeast Asia, but there are limits to how much traction it can get in the region.

ASEAN Indo-Pacfic U.S. Foreign Policy

17 Aug 2021

Biden’s Foreign Policy to Southeast Asia: More Pragmatism than Ideology

Hoang Thi Ha

The Biden Administration has gone big guns on promoting its values-based democracy agenda in the Indo-Pacific. It is time for a rethink.

ASEAN Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

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

27 Jul 2021

Congress and America’s Negative Turn Against China: Strategic Ballast

Robert Sutter

In recent years, the US Congress has played a major role in America’s unprecedented turn against China.

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

27 Jul 2021

The United States’ “Mini” Shangri-La Dialogue: Stand and Deliver

William Choong

When Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, speaks at the 40th Fullerton Lecture in Singapore tonight, he will need to go beyond speaking about esoteric concepts such as the “rules-based international order” and promise that Washington will provide tangible deliverables in the form of pandemic assistance, economic growth and trade.

China-U.S. Relations Quad Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S. Foreign Policy

9 Jul 2021

Biden’s ‘China Challenge’ and Domestic Politics: Implications for Southeast Asia

Shaun Narine

Under President Biden, Southeast Asia is dealing with a US administration that remains determined to compete with and confront China but is mired in political paralysis caused by deep ideological divisions. This will constrain the US’ ability to act as a reliable security and economic partner in the region.

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

7 Jul 2021

Why the New Indonesia-US Maritime Training Centre is Strategically Important

Aristyo Rizka Darmawan

A new maritime training centre established by Indonesia and the United States is emblematic of sustained bilateral cooperation in the maritime domain, and the ASEAN member state’s independent and active foreign policy.

Indo-Pacfic Indonesia South China Sea U.S. Foreign Policy

14 Jun 2021

The United States and the Myanmar Crisis: Broad Interests, Constricted Responses

Robert Sutter

The United States has leaned heavily on traditional policy instruments, primarily sanctions, to manage the political crisis in Myanmar. Currently, it remains unclear if Washington will go beyond the limited scope of past practice.

Myanmar Myanmar Politics U.S. Foreign Policy

10 May 2021

The ASEAN Way: Zen and the Art of Great Power Maintenance

William Choong

Recent official rejections of China’s “nine dash line” claims in the South China Sea by Southeast Asian disputant states are not about closer alignment with the US.

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