East Asia Pulse
In-depth analyses of political, economic and strategic trends in East Asia, brought to you by the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore.
East Asia Pulse
How do SEA countries hedge against US-China rivalry? With Prof Cheng-Chwee Kuik
Southeast Asia isn’t choosing sides—it’s hedging.
EAI Deputy Director Dr Chen Gang speaks with Prof Cheng-Chwee Kuik of the National University of Malaysia about how Southeast Asian countries are navigating intensifying U.S.-China tensions.
Prof Kuik unpacks the logic of hedging—why it’s a deliberate, adaptive strategy—and reflects on how the region’s deepening ties with China bring both opportunities and risks.
Key Highlights:
00:00 How Southeast Asia-China relations have evolved in recent years
03:59 How pragmatic considerations drive Southeast Asian states’ hedging policies
09:40 The evolution of “dual hierarchies” in the Asian order, with the US traditionally leading the security hierarchy and China leading the economic hierarchy.
13:46 Potential risks and challenges amid growing economic ties between Southeast Asia and China
16:44 Future trends in Southeast Asia-China relations
This podcast episode was recorded on 29 May, 2025.
East Asia Pulse is a podcast produced by the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). It provides in-depth analyses of political, economic and strategic trends in East Asia.
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