The Asia Chessboard
Southeast Asia in a Shifting Global Order
Jan 2, 2024
Dr. Joseph Chinyong Liow, Tan Kah Kee Chair of Comparative and International Politics at Nanyang Technological University and Research Advisor for the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, discusses the state of U.S.-China strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific and Singapore's grand strategy. They also delve into ideological concerns in foreign policy choices in Southeast Asia, as well as the conflict in Gaza and reactions in Singapore and the region.
38:06
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Quick takeaways
- Singapore's grand strategy focuses on making the country relevant and useful to great powers, ensuring the defense presence of the US in Southeast Asia for stability.
- The ideological clash between authoritarian and democratic models could have implications for Singapore, requiring policymakers to effectively convey and justify policies while respecting the societal cost and complexity of implementing democracy and human rights.
Deep dives
Singapore's Grand Strategy and Shaping Great Powers
In Singapore's grand strategy, the focus is on making the country relevant and useful to great powers rather than shaping their actions. This involves ensuring the defense presence of the US in Southeast Asia, which may not be openly welcomed by regional states but is considered necessary for stability. However, a key concern for Singapore is the lack of decisive American commitment to trade in the region, which hampers efforts to strengthen regional trade and pushes countries to develop relationships with China. While Singapore and the US may have ideological differences on democracy and human rights, pragmatism guides their approach, allowing them to navigate their diverging views while still working to improve bilateral relations.
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