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China-Asean relations
ChinaDiplomacy

Southeast Asia seeking ‘balance’ between US and China in region, report concludes

  • Tsinghua University says countries welcome greater involvement by Washington but they won’t reduce ties with Beijing
  • Report says countries that ‘lack trust’ or have disputes with China will welcome US military involvement

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US Marines during a drill in the Philippines, one of Washington’s main allies in the region. Photo: EPA-EFE
Teddy Ng
Southeast Asian nations welcome the greater involvement of the United States and China in the region to ensure that one does not become too dominant, according to a Tsinghua University report.
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The report released by the university’s Centre for International Security and Strategy on Friday said member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are seeing enhanced participation of the US economically and militarily, but that will not lessen their cooperation with China.
The United States has deepened its engagement with Asean under Joe Biden’s presidency. On Friday, Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine ambassador to the US, said Manila and Washington are considering talks between top diplomatic and defence officials over potential flashpoints such as the South China Sea and Taiwan.
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The Philippines and the United States have a long-standing Mutual Defence Treaty and take part in joint training exercises each year.

But the Tsinghua University report said the US is also stepping up military engagement with the region. For example, it is providing coastguard vessels and intelligence sharing with Vietnam, and coordinating with allies such as Japan, Australia and Japan, to deploy military vessels to the South China Sea, where sovereignty is contested by Beijing and its Southeast Asian neighbours.
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