The Front Row Podcast #61-George Yeo : The West Must Adapt To Asia's Rise
Nov 6, 2025
George Yeo, a former Singaporean cabinet minister and distinguished public servant, shares insights on Asia's rising influence. He discusses America's adaptation to a multipolar world and India's strategic positioning between major powers. Yeo highlights China's symbolic displays of power and critiques simplistic Cold War analogies in Asia. He advocates for grassroots peacebuilding over top-down approaches and emphasizes respecting community autonomy. He even imagines governance on Mars, urging innovative thinking about future systems and relations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Multipolar World Is Arriving
- George Yeo argues we are in a multipolar world where the US remains dominant but must accept rising powers.
- New groupings like the SCO and BRICS reshape global influence and reduce Western dominance.
Tianjin Meeting's Geopolitical Message
- Yeo recounts the Tianjin SCO meeting where Putin, Xi and Modi publicly appeared together, unsettling the West.
- He notes India triangulates to gain advantages rather than join a Western bloc against Russia and China.
Parades As Strategic Signaling
- China stages grand symbolic displays to signal capability and influence without full disclosure.
- These choreographed shows are meant to influence foreign calculations while hiding other capabilities.
