ARTICLES

18 Apr 2024

Southeast Asia and the Chip Wars: Navigating a Decoupling World

John Lee

The race for some Southeast Asian countries to anchor themselves in the global semiconductor industry is open and evolving, even as it is complicated by factors like great power rivalry.

5 Apr 2024

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Uncovering ASEAN Private Sector Sentiments on Their Choice of Strategic Economic Partner

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

A deep dive into private sector sentiments can yield some insight into ASEAN’s preferred economic partner of choice.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations E.U. Japan State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S.

2 Apr 2024

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Choosing China over the U.S.: Neither a Tidal Shift Nor a Sea Change

Sharon Seah

The U.S. was ASEAN’s preferred major power to align with since the 2020 State of Southeast Asia survey. But this year, more respondents are leaning toward China than the U.S. Southeast Asia may remain engaged with the U.S. while harbouring apprehensions towards China, but the tide may be shifting.

China Southeast Asia State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S.

21 Mar 2024

The United States of America in Southeast Asia: A Conversation with DAS Melissa Brown

Melissa A. Brown

Fulcrum editor and Co-Coordinator of Indonesia Studies Programme Julia Lau discusses the United States' role and policies in Southeast Asia with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Melissa Brown, the day after her public address at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute on 13 March 2024.

Dialogues at Fulcrum Southeast Asia U.S.

28 Feb 2024

The “Small Yard, High Fence” Mirage: Why Sino-U.S. Tech Competition Will Not Be Contained

John Lee

The U.S.’ “small yard, high fence” strategy of restricting key technologies from China would be difficult to effect in practice.

China China-U.S. Relations U.S.

4 Dec 2023

Wars in Europe and Middle East Can affect East Asian Power Balance

Daljit Singh

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East portend more geopolitical uncertainty for East Asia

Armed Conflict China Middle East Southeast Asia U.S. Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Oct. 27, 2023. (Photo by Liu Jie / XINHUA / Xinhua via AFP)

1 Nov 2023

China-U.S. High-Level Dialogues: A Welcome Uptick but a Long Road Ahead

William Choong

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent meeting with U.S. President Joseph R. Biden in Washington indicates that high-level exchanges between the two powers are gaining momentum. But there is still a long way to go.

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

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

15 Sep 2023

Vietnamese Perceptions in a Changing Sino-US Relationship

Sharon Seah|Indira Zahra Aridati

Data from the State of Southeast Asia Surveys from 2020 to 2023 suggests that while Vietnamese opinion-leaders’ views of China have oscillated over the past four years, trust in the US remains consistent.

China U.S. Vietnam