Key facts
- Southeast Asian businesses and policymakers favor multilateralism, according to a survey.
- Respondents expressed wariness of leadership by either the US or China.
- The survey indicated a preference for a balanced approach to international relations.
A survey reveals that businesses and policymakers in Southeast Asia largely favor multilateralism and express wariness of being led by either the United States or China. The findings suggest a regional preference for a balanced approach to international relations, aiming to navigate the complexities of great power competition without aligning exclusively with one dominant force.
The survey highlights a desire among regional actors to foster cooperation and maintain stability through established international frameworks rather than succumbing to the influence of a single superpower. This sentiment underscores the region's strategic positioning and its efforts to pursue independent foreign policy objectives.