ARTICLES

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.

9 Nov 2021

Southeast Asia and the Major Powers: Climate Change and the Need For Shrewdness

Melinda Martinus|Sharon Seah

Although geopolitics is encroaching onto climate change discussions, a poll shows that Southeast Asians remain objective and pragmatic. Achieving climate goals in the region depends on realpolitik and ASEAN leaders’ shrewdness in tapping resources from all major powers.

China Climate Change E.U. Environment Southeast Asia Sustainable Development U.S.

8 Nov 2021

Why US Rivalry with China Will Endure: Implications for Southeast Asia

Robert Sutter

Despite the Biden government’s efforts to improve relations with Southeast Asia, considerable domestic constraints hinder Washington from joining multilateral economic groups or de-emphasising human rights concerns to compete more effectively with China in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Cold War South China Sea Southeast Asia U.S.

22 Oct 2021

Southeast Asian Responses to AUKUS: Arms Racing, Non-Proliferation and Regional Stability

William Choong|Ian Storey

AUKUS is a wake-up call to ASEAN that it needs to be more proactive on security issues and cannot take its centrality for granted.

ASEAN Unity AUKUS Australia China Quad South China Sea Southeast Asia U.S.

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

15 Sep 2021

Indonesian Militants React to Taliban Takeover

Quinton Temby

The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has been welcomed in Indonesia’s militant Islamist circles and even among some mainstream figures.

Afghanistan Indonesia Islamist Groups Taliban U.S.

13 Sep 2021

Ideology Versus Pragmatism: Vietnam’s Statecraft towards China and America

Huynh Tam Sang|Pham Do An

China is seeking to drive a wedge between Hanoi and Washington, even as Vietnam-US relations continue to flourish. Hence, Vietnam’s striking a balance between its ideological cohesiveness with China and pragmatic ties with the US is being put to the test.

China Indo-Pacfic U.S. U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vaccine Diplomacy Vietnam

9 Sep 2021

Deepening US-Vietnam Ties: Less Geopolitics, More Human Security

Phan Xuan Dung

Discussions about the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and the United States typically centre on the geopolitical aspects. A more meaningful way of developing the relationship is actually in the field of human security.

U.S. U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam