Awaiting US election, Asian officials see little difference in candidates’ policies
Many US plans for the region are baked in, analysts note, and won’t change regardless of whether Trump or Harris becomes president
As the world awaits the outcome of one of the most unusual presidential elections in US history, many Indo-Pacific countries see relatively little difference whether Vice-President Kamala Harris or former president Donald Trump wins, analysts and former officials said.
While there may be notable stylistic disparities between the Republican Trump and Democrat Harris, many US policies toward the region are baked in, they note – making the winner relatively less consequential for their core interests.
“The most important thing for Japan about the presidential election is how the new president will treat the relationship with China. If we view it from that aspect, there’s no significant difference,” said Takemasa Sekine, a professor at Yokohama National University.
“We expect that any candidate, even Mr. Trump or Ms. Harris, would take a very harsh policy towards China.”
Others, offering views from various Asian economies, broadly agreed.
Gita Wirjawan, a former Indonesian trade minister, contended that most Southeast Asian countries are indifferent, adding that what the region really needed was investment and structural reform, neither of which are dependent on the election outcome.
“I think Indonesia’s [regional] leadership is way overdue,” Wirjawan, now chairman of the Jakarta-based Ancora Group, said. “I think Indonesia would provide a balancing tone under either administration.
