US playing catch-up to China after neglecting Asean: report

By maintaining its presence and participation, the US can help prevent regional forums being dominated by China, says report by United States Studies Centre

While US influence has waned, China has been courting the region, helping it to maximise its influence and set the agenda

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Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs the Asean-China Special Summit. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:00pm, 7 Dec 2021Updated: 11:00am, 8 Dec 2021

American neglect of Southeast Asian forums, coupled with China’s efforts to court the region, have left Washington playing catch-up in the influence stakes.

That’s according to a recent report by the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, which urged Washington to engage more actively with regional institutions such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the East Asia Summit and the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus.

“By maintaining its constructive presence and participation, the United States can indirectly help prevent these groupings from being dominated by China,” the report said.

In recent years, especially during the Donald Trump presidency, the US had repeatedly sent downgraded delegations to regional forums, disappointing Asian countries and leaders who feared US commitment to the region was waning at the same time as China’s influence was expanding.

Benjamin Ho, an assistant professor at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ China programme, said Southeast Asian leaders paid much attention to “face”.

“Showing up is important as it demonstrates symbolically the significance of the region to the US,” Ho said, adding that in the absence of the US, China would naturally get a greater say in regional affairs.

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