Zhai Kun

Opinion | How Indonesia and the rest of Asean can benefit from US-China competition

As the US seeks to erode China’s considerable influence in Southeast Asia, Indonesia – a prime target of both US and Chinese diplomacy – should capitalise on the rivalry to strengthen Asean and boost cooperation on development

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Zhai Kun

Published: 9:15am, 4 Feb 2022

China and the United States are ramping up their efforts to gain influence in Southeast Asia. As the competition hots up, Indonesia is emerging as a prime target of their diplomacy.

Asean released its Outlook on the Indo-Pacific statement in 2019 that is intended to serve as a framework for cooperation in the region. While US President Joe Biden has embraced this vision, Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative.

Biden clearly attaches great importance to Southeast Asia. In his first year in office, he has already sent his vice-president, secretary of state and secretary of defence to various Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries. Biden himself attended the East Asia Summit last October via video link.

The most recent trip to the region, by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in December, started in Jakarta, underlining the US charm offensive towards this non-aligned emerging power.

US President Joe Biden attends via video link the US-Asean summit on October 26 last year, from the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo: Abaca Press/TNS

The US leader deserves high marks for his efforts; not every president has paid as much attention to this region. The Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia” boosted US leadership in the region, but a lack of follow-through during Donald Trump’s term saw it decline amid a general slump in America’s global influence.