Opinion | Covid-19 sharpens US-China rivalry, complicating Southeast Asia’s dilemma

Asean states have tried in recent years to steer clear of Beijing’s and Washington’s manoeuvrings. The tit-for-tat accusations between the two over their handling of the pandemic now add to existing tensions over trade and the South China Sea

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre of TV screen) addresses delegates at a special Asean Summit on Covid-19 held online, as shown on a TV screen in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: AP

Published: 10:30am, 2 May 2020Updated: 10:40am, 2 May 2020

More than most places, Southeast Asia has been affected acutely by the growing US-China rivalry that has kicked into high gear over the past decade. Covid-19 has intensified these strains between the world’s two largest economies, complicating Southeast Asia’s situation even further.

The coronavirus pandemic is deepening the divide between Washington and Beijing as both level accusations at each other over the disease’s origin. The Trump administration’s allegation that the Chinese Communist Party had tried to cover up the extent of the virus’ spread and Beijing’s subsequent “mask diplomacy” public relations offensive to control the narrative have elevated tensions between the two powers.

Covid-19 has accelerated the changing dynamics in Southeast Asia. Recent years have seen the Association of Southeast Asian Nations being tugged in different directions as China seeks to pull individual states into its orbit to protect its southern region while also looking to block American naval access to the region’s strategic waters.

In response, Washington is beginning to invest in weapons systems and capabilities to prevent China from widening its area of control and to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during a bilateral meeting in Bangkok on the sidelines of the 35th Asean Summit, on November 4 last year. Photo: AP

To this end, the Trump administration has been working with allies and partners – that is, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and India – while seeking to counter Beijing’s growing political influence with certain Asean member states.

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