Philip Cunningham, Independent Scholar
Jun 13, 2018
China’s diplomatic forays into Southeast Asia are periodic and predictable. Yet Premier Li Keqiang may have his work cut out for him in upcoming forays to the region. Shifts in diplomatic outlook on the part of both the U.S. and China are changing the rules as tensions arise and polarize the region.
Richard Javad Heydarian, Professorial Chairholder in Geopolitics, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
May 09, 2018
The 32nd ASEAN Summit, held in Singapore on April 27 and 28, saw the ASEAN adopting tough language against America’s trade protectionism, while pursuing further its blossoming relations with China.
Ian Storey, Senior Fellow, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute
Feb 01, 2018
On Wednesday 17 January, the U.S. Navy conducted a much anticipated “freedom of navigation operation” (FONOP) in the South China Sea when the guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper sailed within 12 nautical miles of Scarborough Shoal.
Zhai Kun, Professor, Peking University
Nov 29, 2017
A reasonable progression could be from a “neighborhood community with a shared destiny” to “an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future”, to a “community with a shared future for mankind”.
Douglas Paal, Vice President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Nov 07, 2017
US President Donald Trump is making his first official visit to Asia. The 12-day tour of five countries will focus on easing doubts about the reliability of the United States and its leader. Given the challenges and possibilities for the US in Asia, that is an unambitious goal.
Shaun Tan, Writer
Oct 20, 2017
The Chinese diasporas in Southeast Asia are market-dominant minorities, and thus often a target for populist persecution. Will China, which has so often expressed solidarity with overseas Chinese, step up to defend them?
Jonathan Tai, Research assistant, Inle Advisory Group
May 05, 2017
National reconciliation does not just impact Myanmar’s political and economic interests; it is also important to China. As the largest neighbor and sharing the longest border with Myanmar, China has and will continue to play a prominent role in the nation’s stalled peace process..
Vikram Nehru, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Carnegie Asia Program
Jan 11, 2017
Given their economic and geographic proximity to China, Southeast Asian countries are beginning to warm up to the Chinese renminbi. At this stage, however, it would be premature for Southeast Asian governments to do much more than they have already done.
Brahma Chellaney, Professor, Center for Policy Research
Dec 16, 2016
Recent developments are highlighting how competition over shared water resources is a major contributory factor to the growing geopolitical discord in Asia. China’s “territorial grab” in the South China Sea has been accompanied by a quieter “freshwater grab” in transnational river basins. Reengineering trans-boundary water flows is integral to China’s strategy to employ power, control, influence, and fashion a strongly Sino-centric Asia. The upsurge of resource and territorial disputes has underscored the looming dangers. Various developments indeed are highlighting the linkage between water and peace.
Sajjad Ashraf, Former Adjunct Professor, National University of Singapore
Dec 14, 2016
President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States will quit the Trans-Pacific Partnership kills the stillborn deal. For the countries of Southeast Asia who joined this U.S. led pact, it is a moment of reflection over their policy choices, making them seek accommodation with a more certain China rather than a wavering U.S.