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

18 Dec 2024

Japan-ROK-US Trilateral Relations: Flying into Turbulence

Joanne Lin|William Choong

The political tides are going against the recently impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This could adversely affect the trilateral security arrangement involving Japan, South Korea and the US.

Japan South Korea U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy

26 Jul 2024

Southeast Asian Perceptions of China: Beijing’s Growing Power is Recognised, but Feared

Lee Sue-Ann|William Choong

Data from a multi-year trend analysis of Southeast Asian perceptions of China suggest that the region remains apprehensive about China’s growing power and influence. Yet in the face of greater uncertainty over the future of the United States’ leadership role in the region, the preference has been to try to keep the peace with China.

ASEAN ASEAN-China Relations China U.S.

19 Jun 2024

The Shangri-La Dialogue’s Coming of Age – A Conversation with Veerle Nouwens

Veerle Nouwens

Fulcrum editor Julia Lau discusses the recent Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) and the significance of two decades of the SLD with IISS Executive Director, Veerle Nouwens.

China Defence Dialogues at Fulcrum South China Sea U.S.

14 Jun 2024

The Impacts of Supply Chain Reconfiguration on ASEAN Economies

Aufa Doarest|Maria Monica Wihardja

An examination of recent trade and FDI flows shows that ASEAN has been benefitting from the reconfiguration of global supply chains as a result of intensifying US-China strategic rivalry. But these gains could well be reversed if the US-China intensifies and leads to a sharp decoupling of global supply chains.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Economic Development Technology U.S.

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

4 Jun 2024

How Cambodia’s Relationship with the US Can Stop Being “One-Sided Love”

Chhay Lim|Melinda Martinus

Instead of punishing Cambodia for its domestic record and closeness to China, the US has a chance to work with Phnom Penh’s new leaders as they seek to diversify their economy and foreign policy.

Cambodia Cambodia-China Relations International Relations U.S.

3 Jun 2024

The Impacts of the US Tariff Hikes on Southeast Asian Economies

Maria Monica Wihardja

US tariff hikes on Chinese goods have raised US imports from Southeast Asia. The medium- and long-term impacts are more uncertain and potentially disruptive; the region must be on guard.

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

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.

China China-U.S. Relations Southeast Asia Technology U.S.