US-China Strategic Competition and Southeast Asia

There has been a pronounced shift inS. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) dynamics between ChinaChina and the USA, towards one where competition is now the defining character of their relationship. Yet, growing great power competition does not mean that other international actors do not have agency to shape their strategic circumstances. With a focus on Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia, we highlight two cases of this agency. The first is ASEAN-China cooperation in COVID-19Covid-19 pandemic recovery, while the second looks at China-Singapore cooperation to build a more secure regional order. Both ASEANASEAN and SingaporeSingapore have well-known, robust partnerships with the USAUnited States. Yet their relationship with the USA has not stopped ASEANASEAN and Singapore from exercising their prerogative to work with China—when it suits—to improve the circumstances of the region. The cases show that the choices of Southeast Asian states are not necessarily defined by the US-China competition.