Synopsis: On the third Friday of every month, The Straits Times examines various facets of the US-China rivalry and its implications for Asia.

Join Charissa Yong and Danson Cheong - ST’s US and China correspondents respectively based in Washington DC and Beijing - as they chat about the US and China, and their ongoing courtship of South-east Asia and Asean.

May 12 and 13 saw US President Biden hosting Asean leaders to a special summit, and most of them descended on Washington. Eight out of 10 were there, except for the Myanmar junta leader and the Philippines, which had just had an election.

Highlights (click/tap above):

01:45 Why the US wants to show it can be a reliable partner to South-east Asia and Asean

02:45 Reading the view in Beijing towards this summit; why Asean countries don't want to choose between both powers

04:30 The 3 key outcomes from the summit; why the US is still playing a catch-up game

07:53 Why the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework - America’s soon-to-be-released strategy for economic engagement in the region was the elephant in the room at the summit