My Take | Southeast Asians are warming to the Quad – but they need to see more tangible benefits
- A new survey shows rising regional acceptance of the US-Japan-Australia-India security grouping that’s been derided by Beijing as an anti-China ‘tool’
- To strengthen ties with Asean, however, more tangible, visible projects for the public good will be needed, especially in health and infrastructure
According to a new survey released this week by the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, an overwhelming number of Southeast Asians expressed confidence in the Quad, which was established decades ago but revived in recent years as a counter to Chinese influence.
Of the close to 2,000 Southeast Asians surveyed for the sixth “State of Southeast Asia” study, 73.1 per cent agreed that cooperation between Asean and the Quad would either “be beneficial to the region” or “complementary to Asean efforts”.
This stood in stark contrast to the 2020 survey, which found that 54.2 per cent thought the Quad had a “very negative” or “negative” effect on Southeast Asian security, or had “no impact”.
It also marked an increase compared to 2022, when 58.5 per cent of respondents said they either “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that strengthening the Quad would be constructive for the region.
