Shows
Engaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 34 - Measuring US Global Influence Under Trump 2.0 with Mr Greg PolingHow have Trump administration policies affected the reach of US influence, especially in Southeast Asia and BRICS countries? Tune in to hear Gregory Poling, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., present the findings of the new CSIS Global Alignment Index, which measures support for US, Chinese and Russian leadership over time.
2025-11-2535 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 33 - Reflections on a Week in DCIt’s been ten months since United States President Donald Trump began his second term in office. Some of the uncertainty that dominated those first few months hasgiven way to an understanding of how his administration functions. Yet, plenty of questions remain. What are the different “tribes” within his administration? What might come next for US policy on China, now that a deal has been secured? And what security issues are keeping US experts up at night?Join Adrian and Kevin as they recount the main takeaways and observations of their recent research trip to Was...
2025-11-1321 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 11 - The 2025 Government ShutdownGovernment shutdowns are nothing new to American politics, with the government shutting down some 20 times since 1975 over funding disagreements. The duration of these shutdowns, however, has generally been increasing, with the last shutdown in December 2018 lasting 34 days. Adding to the uncertainty, United States President Donald Trump has threatened a mass layoff of federal workers to pressure Democrats to back moves to end the shutdown.Join Adrian and Kevin as they discuss the implications of the ongoing government shutdown, how the two parties are tailoring their political messaging, and how this could impact government functions such as the...
2025-10-0920 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 32 - Another Look at Trump's Indo-Pacific Strategy with Prof. Derek GrossmanAs compared to his first term, US President Donald Trump’s approach to the Indo-Pacific appears to be undergoing a significant transformation. He has disrupted relationships with allies and partners with his tariff regime, while there are open questions about his commitment to groupings such as the Quad and AUKUS. Where will his strategy towards the region go from here, and what implications will this have for Singapore and other countries in the region? Join us for a discussion with Professor Derek Grossman, Professor of the Practice of Political Science and International Relations, University of Sou...
2025-10-0738 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 31 - Examining the US-South Korea RelationshipBarely two weeks after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s successful meeting with United States President Donald Trump in the White House, the US-South Korea relationship was once again disrupted by a record-breaking ICE raid on a Hyundai-LG plant in Georgia, which saw the arrest of over 300 South Korean workers on visa charges. As the dust slowly settles from these episodes, whatcan we make of the overall state of the US-South Korea relationship? What should we make of the investment deal that was agreed between the two leaders during the White House meeting? What repercussions will the factory ra...
2025-09-2332 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 30 - Assessing American Strategy in the Indo-Pacific - A Conversation with Prof. Hal BrandsWhat is the current state of American strategy in the Indo-Pacific? While he shuns multilateral groupings and institutions, US President Donald Trump is not an isolationist, and ostensibly has a vision of how he wants to engage the Indo-Pacific. But is there a coherent strategy at play? What can we surmise from the first six months of his second term, and what can we expect from US strategy in this region in the near future? Join us for a discussion with Professor Hal Brands, the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the J...
2025-08-2828 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 29 - Assessing the Implications of Trump's Tariffs for JapanUS President Donald Trump’s tariffs have captured the public imagination in much of Asia – yet it is important to look past the specific tariff rates that he has threatened or assigned to each country. How have Trump’s tariffs impacted US engagement with Asian economies, particularly Japan? How is the Japanese government responding to his demands, and what can we expect going forward? Join us for a discussion with Dr Makio Miyagawa, Adjunct Senior Fellow at RSIS. Dr Miyagawa has held successive positions at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Legal Desk Chief, Deputy Director of the...
2025-08-0733 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 28 - Why is Southeast Asia Drifting Towards China? A Conversation with Prof. Joseph LiowIt is often said that Southeast Asian countries reject a zero-sum choice between aligning with either Washington or Beijing, preferring to engage both parties in the pursuit of their national interests. Yet a recent study has shown that despite the intentional preferences of these Southeast Asian governments, their policies point towards a drift towards China. What could this mean for the region, and what could Washington do to reverse this drift? Join us for a discussion with Professor Joseph Liow, Tan Kah Kee chair of Comparative and International Politics and Dean of the College...
2025-07-0938 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 27 - Is the US Ready for a Major War in Asia?Can the US still fight a major war? Does it still possess the industrial base to fuel a prolonged war effort, the political will to put aside partisan differences, and a myriad other factors that need to come together to allow it to prevail? How does this tie into United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue? In this episode of Engaging the Eagle, Dr. Steven Metz provides insights into the implications of the Ukraine war on US military strategy, the challenges facing the US defense industrial base, and the evolving nature of military recruitment an...
2025-06-1236 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 26 - Southeast Asia, China Trade: Assessing Trump's First Four MonthsIt has been four months since United States President Donald Trump returned to the White House. There is little doubt that he is the most influential President that the world has seen in decades, but what really stands out? How have his policies affected Southeast Asia? And following up on our previous episode, what’s going on with the trade situation between the US and China? Join us as we delve into these topics.
2025-05-2231 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 25 - Unpacking Trump's Tariff PolicyUnited States President Donald Trump is a vocal proponent of tariffs. Yet his dramatic tariff announcement on April 2, along with the tumultuous cycles of raising and lifting tariffs that followed, left many observers surprised. As the situation continues to unfold, what can we make of his tariff policy? What are his goals, and where could this end up? How are Southeast Asian countries responding to his tariffs?
2025-04-2928 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 24 Deal or No Deal - US-China Ties Under Trump 2.0With his cabinet staffed in large part by China hawks, many observers had surmised that US President Donald Trump would pursue a confrontational policy against China. Yet, from holding back on his initial threat to impose 60% tariffs on Chinese imports to seeking a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, there are signs that he is seeking to strike a deal with Beijing. What should we make of this, and what are the prospects for US-China ties in the immediate future? Join us as we sit down with Jude Blanchette, Distinguished Tang Chair in China Research and Director of the...
2025-04-0844 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 23 - US-Indonesia Ties Under Trump 2.0 Part IIJoin us for part two of this two-part episode, as we sit down with Dr Evan Laksmana, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Southeast Asian Security and Defence, and Editor of theAsia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment at IISS, to discuss the trajectory of US-Indonesia relations under Trump 2.0.Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was one of the first foreign leaders to publicly congratulate Donald Trump on his electoral victory in November 2024. There are hopes that the two leaders might build a close personal relationship – yet, there are also sources of friction and challenges. Prabowo is a leader who wishes to build th...
2025-03-1842 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 22 - US-Indonesia Ties Under Trump 2.0 Part IIndonesian President Prabowo Subianto was one of the first foreign leaders to publicly congratulate Donald Trump on his electoral victory in November 2024. There are hopes that the two leaders might build a close personal relationship – yet, there are also sources of friction and challenges. Prabowo is a leader who wishes to build the capacity of his country to exert more power on the international stage, but this would necessarily involve deeper engagement with China. Developments such as Indonesia’s admission to BRICS may sour Trump’s view of the country, while Indonesia’s lack of a presence in Washington may make...
2025-03-0425 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 21 - US-China Ties and the Change in International Order Under Trump 2.0Donald Trump’s electoral victory in November 2024 was not only a watershed in American domestic politics, but also signalled a fundamental shift in the post-Cold War international order. Given that Trump’s administration and inner circle is populated with China hawks, there are concerns about how he will conduct his relations with Chinese leaders. Yet, there is a structural explanation for the deterioration of US-China relations in recent years as well, with a distinct possibility that these conditions could lead the US and China towards confrontation and conflict.
2025-02-0636 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 20 - US-Philippine Ties Under Trump 2.0Following Donald Trump’s victory in the November 2024 election, Philippine leaders expressed optimism about the future of the bilateral relationship. Security ties between the two allies remain strong, and there is bipartisan recognition and support for expanded strategic cooperation in the US. But there are also concerns about how Washington will cultivate the economic side of the relationship under Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy. Above all, it will be important to observe how the Philippines retains its strategic autonomy amid pressure from Washington. Join us as we sit down with Justin Baquisal, a Resident National Security Analyst at F...
2025-01-1654 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 19 - Japan and the Region Under Trump 2.0: A Conversation with Amb Makio MiyagawaAsian governments are already positioning themselves to engage with the second Trump administration, due to take office in January 2025. How will the U.S. election results influence Japan’s security calculations? Will Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba be able to bond with Trump to the same degree that the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did? And how will this election outcome affect regional stability as a whole? Join us as we discuss these issues with Ambassador Makio Miyagawa, Special Advisor on National Security at the National Security Secretariat, Cabinet Bureau of Japan.
2024-12-1227 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 18 - A Corporate and Trade Policy Perspective on Trump 2.0: A Conversation with Steve OkunAs the dust settles from the U.S. Presidential election, businesses in Southeast Asia are reckoning with the implications of a second Trump administration. How are they preparing for trade instability, especially if the new administration follows through on its threat of 20% universal tariffs? Are there ways for Southeast Asian economies to leverage these disruptions to their benefit, as they did during the 2018-2019 trade war? What does Trump 2.0 mean for America’s foreign policy and role in the global trading system? Join us as we discuss these important issues with Steve Okun, Founder and CEO of APAC Advisors.
2024-11-2830 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaElection Watch with USP Ep 5 - Why did Trump Win?With the dust settling from the 2024 election, it’s time to ask some crucial questions: How did Donald Trump win not just the Presidency, but the popular vote? What does this result and those of the state-level elections show about the Democrat Party’s strategy in this election? Where did it go wrong, and what myths were overturned in the process? Tune into this special episode to find out more.
2024-11-1442 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 17 - U.S. Strategy in a Fragmented, Multipolar World: A Conversation with Zack CooperThe U.S. has been a strategic actor in the Indo-Pacific for decades, but it is facing an increasingly fragmented and multipolar world. Even as Washington engages its partners and allies in the region, fixed alliances in the vein of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) are too rigid and disruptive for regional actors to accept. Rather, smaller, more nimble coalitions on specific issues have been gaining popularity.
Join us as we sit down with Dr. Zack Cooper, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss the future of American strategy in the Indo-Pacific, how the...
2024-10-2330 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaElection Watch with USP Episode 4 - The Road to 270 with Daron ShawWhat is the state of the presidential campaign as the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former-President Donald Trump enters the final stretch? How are the candidates faring in critical battleground states? Are the polls accurate in this election cycle? What campaign strategies are Harris and Trump pursuing and what difference, if any, will they make on Election Day? What are the domestic and foreign policy implications of the election?
Join us as we discuss these questions with Professor Daron Shaw of The University of Texas at Austin, one of the leading scholars...
2024-10-1059 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 16 - A Chinese View on the U.S. Election: A Conversation with Chen DongxiaoThe results of the U.S. election will have important implications for most countries, including China. There may be a broad consensus on the need to compete with China among both the Democrat and Republican parties, but a Harris presidency would offer a relatively familiar set of challenges as compared to a second Trump administration.
From the threat of 60% tariffs on Chinese imports to potential expansions to new tech restrictions, a “Trump shock” would have important implications for the U.S.-China relationship. How are Chinese leaders preparing for the outcome of the election?
2024-09-1821 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 15 - U.S.-Taiwan Policy: A Conversation with Taylor FravelAs U.S.-China competition heats up, one area of concern for security scholars is that of a potential conflict over Taiwan. Some U.S. scholars and analysts suggest that the U.S. should abandon its long-standing approach of strategic ambiguity in favour of strategic clarity. Meanwhile, Chinese officials and scholars have expressed increasing concerns about changes in the U.S. One China Policy that have already occurred. What do these trends mean, and what can we expect from Washington and Beijing?
2024-09-0224 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaElection Watch with USP Ep 3 - A Beginner's Guide to US ElectionsTo the layperson, especially one on the other side of the world, US election procedures seem confusing and needlessly complicated. How many races are being held in November? How does the electoral college work? We’ve heard all these questions and more from our colleagues and friends over the past few weeks, so we thought it’d be helpful to answer them in a special episode.
2024-08-2332 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 10 - Assessing Blinken's Asia BlitzU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s whirlwind tour across six countries in the Indo-Pacific region has had important implications for U.S. engagement in the region. His busy schedule included two two-plus-two meetings in Manila and Tokyo, where Mr. Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met their Philippine and Japanese counterparts for high-level discussions. These meetings
also produced key deliverables such as the announcement of a new “joint force headquarters” in Japan and a US$500 million pledge to increase Manila’s military capabilities. What can we make of Mr. Blinken’s region-spanning visits, especially in the face o...
2024-08-1223 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaElection Watch with USP Ep 2 - From the Brink – Harris 2024 Gives Democrats HopeIn U.S. politics, two weeks can be an eternity – but this past fortnight has been especially long. Since President Joe Biden’s suspension of his re-election campaign and endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris on 21 July, the formerly fractious Democrat Party coalesced behind VP Harris’ election bid in little over a week. With record-breaking numbers of donations, first-time donors and new campaign volunteers, the momentum in the election has shifted significantly towards the Democrats. How did this shift happen, and with around 100 days to go in the election, can the Democrats sustain this excitement over VP Harris?
2024-08-0225 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaElection Watch with USP Ep 1 - The GOP Convention and an Attempted AssasinationThe national convention of the Republican Party took place amid a series of momentous developments, ranging from historic supreme court rulings to an assassination attempt against Former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. The Convention officially sealed his nomination as the GOP’s candidate and the undisputed leader of the party, while his appointment of Senator J.D. Vance also put to rest questions about who he would nominate as his running mate. With Democrats still divided over the identity of their candidate, the momentum appears to be on the side of the GOP at this point in...
2024-07-2224 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 14 - Reflections on SLD24 with William ChoongThe Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is a track 1 intergovernmental security conference held in Singapore that gathers participants from across the region to discuss issues such as U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific. This year’s iteration of the summit saw competing visions for regional cooperation offered by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun, the former outlining a vision for network of partners and the latter speaking of China’s “five principles of peaceful coexistence.” The summit also saw a surprise in-person appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who sought to raise awareness of a mid-June...
2024-07-0432 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 13 - The Growing Threat of Transnational Crime in Southeast Asia: A Conversation with Alvin CambaThe emergence of a web of scam compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos is not just an issue for Mekong countries. The criminal syndicates that operate from these compounds are estimated to steal over US$43.8 billion from Mekong countries every year and conduct their financial and administrative operations in other Southeast Asian countries. This poses a series of challenges for the United States. American citizens lost an estimated US$3.5 billion in 2023 to scam actors in Southeast Asia; more broadly, these criminal syndicates weaken state authority in Southeast Asia and make it more challenging for Washington to promote its strategic...
2024-06-1325 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 12 - A Conversation with Ambassador Derek MitchellAs the civil conflict in Myanmar rages on, there are ongoing questions about how regional actors such as ASEAN and the United States should calibrate their responses to the crisis. In particular, is there a practical case for the value of democracy for global interests such as peace, security and development? How are these efforts being received in Southeast Asia? Join us for a conversation with Ambassador Derek Mitchell, non-resident senior advisor to the Office of the President and the Asia Program at CSIS, to discuss this important topic.
2024-05-3028 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 11: Southeast Asia Amid the U.S.-China Tech Race - A Conversation with Dr Cung VuAs U.S.-China competition heats up in the field of technology, Southeast Asian economies find themselves in a unique position with both benefits and risks. Investments have poured into the region from multiple parties, seeking to take advantage of factors such as mineral wealth and low labour costs to manufacture crucial components for EV supply chains. However, there are geopolitical risks that must be managed as well. Join us as we speak with Dr Cung Vu, Visiting Senior Fellow at RSIS and former-Associate Director of the Office of Naval Research Global and Chief Science and Technology Adviser of t...
2024-05-1522 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 10: Prioritisation and Primacy - A Conversation with Stephen WertheimFrom Europe to the Middle East, numerous crises have emerged during the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden. This has fuelled debates over whether the U.S. has the capacity to address all of them at once – or, as some have argued, whether the U.S. should prioritise its interests and pick its fights more carefully. Join us as we speak with Stephen Wertheim, Senior Fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on this important strategic issue.
2024-04-3031 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 9 - Maritime Security Takeaways from the U.S.-Japan-Philippines Trilateral SummitThe April 2024 trilateral summit between the U.S., Japan and the Philippines was closely watched by regional observers. The Philippines, which has weathered increasing assertiveness from China, signed an agreement to maintain security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The U.S., meanwhile, is moving to integrate its defence industrial base with that of Japan, with a plan to use Japanese shipyards to repair U.S. warships. What do these developments mean for maritime security in the region? Tune in to hear Dr. Collin Koh, Senior Fellow at RSIS, share his views.
2024-04-1917 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 8 - "Cornerstone" and "Shipmate" - Key Takeaways from the U.S.-Japan SummitAs Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell recently described, the U.S. alliance with Japan is the “cornerstone of [U.S.] engagement in the Indo-Pacific.” This statement was underscored by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit to Washington in April 2024, outlining 70 agreements in areas ranging from defence to space and even culture at a press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden. How significant was this visit, and what are the limits of the U.S.-Japan relationship? Tune in to hear Associate Professor Bhubhindar Singh from RSIS offer his views on this important topic.
2024-04-1716 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 7 - The TikTok Bill and U.S. Economic Policy in Southeast AsiaHere at the U.S. Programme in IDSS, RSIS, we monitor topics ranging from tech to U.S. economic policy. We also write about it too, with Adrian Ang (Coordinator, USP) and Kevin Chen (Associate Research Fellow, USP) recently writing Op-Eds on the TikTok bill and U.S. economic policy in Southeast Asia respectively. Tune in to hear them give a quick rundown on their Op-Eds.
Adrian's Op-Ed: https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip24033-the-us-tiktok-ban-larger-yards-and-higher-fences/
Kevin's Op-Ed: https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip24035-exploring-waning-us-economic-influence-in-asean-despite-high-levels-of-fdi/
2024-04-1115 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 9: Under New Leadership - U.S.-Indonesia Ties in 2024Based on data from numerous news and polling agencies, all signs point to Prabowo Subianto being the likely winner of Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential election. Amid questions about the composition of his government and the policies he will prioritise while in office, an important consideration is what he will bring to the foreign policy table.
Prabowo’s election manifesto underlined climate change, the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, and potential armed conflicts with China in the South China Sea as some of the key strategic challenges facing Indonesia. He is expected to be more engaged in foreign policy as com...
2024-03-2044 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 8: After the Election - U.S.-Taiwan Ties in 2024On 13 January 2024, Taiwan voters elected Lai Ching-te as their president, keeping the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in power for a third straight term. The election had been deemed as a crucial signal for Cross-Strait Relations for the next four years, with Beijing ominously framing it as a choice between “peace and war, prosperity and decline.”
There are concerns about how Beijing will respond to Lai’s victory, given how they repeatedly labeled him as a “stubborn worker for Taiwan independence”. On the other hand, Washington was quick to congratulate Lai, though President Joe Biden took...
2024-02-1637 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 6 - Reflections on a Week in D.C.As part of our efforts to better understand global security and political developments, RSIS regularly embarks on study trips to meet with and maintain close ties with fellow think tanks and agencies. One such trip was made to Washington, D.C., in early November 2023, where we met with experts from the Centre for Naval Analyses, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Stimson Centre, American Enterprise Institute, Brookings Institution, Wilson Centre, and the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS).
The prospect of a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping was...
2023-12-2221 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 7: U.S.-Myanmar Ties in 2023The United States and Myanmar have a long and storied history of bilateral ties. 10 years ago, ties appeared to be on the mend, with visits to the country by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama followed by the easing of sanctions. In recent years, however, the relationship has been defined by two crises: the Rohingya Crisis that erupted in 2017, and the February 2021 Coup that deposed the democratically elected members of the country’s ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). In response to the crises, the U.S. doubled down on targeted sanctions ag...
2023-11-2226 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaBonus Episode 1: Threatening National Security or Bridging the Digital Divide? A Case Study of Huawei’s Expansion in BrazilChina’s digital footprint has been expanding rapidly in Latin America in the last two decades. Neither the U.S.-China tech war nor the U.S.-led global campaign aimed at Chinese tech firms seemed to be able to reverse the trend. Much of the policy discussion in the western media surrounding China’s digital expansion focuses on the supply side, emphasizing the potential risks of adopting Chinese technologies. Yet there remains scant research on the demand side—namely, how policymakers in developing countries perceive Chinese tech firms and how they maneuver amid the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. a...
2023-11-021h 01Engaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 5 - What does a Government Shutdown Mean for US Foreign Policy?On October 1, the U.S. government narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution, a type of stopgap spending bill that funds federal agencies at 2022 levels for 45 days. The U.S. is one of the few political systems in the world in which federal agencies cannot spend or obligate any money without an appropriation or approval from Congress – in other words, if Congress fails to pass 12 annual appropriation bills, the government will shut down, as it has 10 times over the past 4 decades. Yet the danger is not past yet. There are concerns that the gesture may only ha...
2023-10-1926 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 6: Seeking Centrality - U.S.-ASEAN Ties in 2023U.S.-ASEAN ties have been in the spotlight since news emerged that U.S. President Joe Biden would not be attending the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. While the U.S. has repeatedly affirmed in strategic documents and public statements alike that it supports ASEAN centrality, the absence of its Chief Executive at the grouping’s main Summit casts a pall over its approach to the region. In fact, given how Washington seems to be advancing its ties with individual ASEAN states such as Vietnam and the Philippines instead of the overall grouping, there are questions about Washington’s co...
2023-09-2839 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 5: U.S.-Singapore Ties in 2023Singapore, the tiny island-state in Southeast Asia, has a close relationship with the United States. Singapore is Washington’s largest trade partner in Southeast Asia, while Washington is the republic’s largest foreign investor. The two also share close security ties, with US forces allowed to access Singapore’s air and naval bases on a rotational basis since 1990. The two are frequent participants in joint exercises and are also exploring cooperation in emerging and novel areas such as cybersecurity and blockchain payments.
The strength of the US-Singapore relationship is beyond doubt – however, a more interesting question concerns the limits...
2023-08-3143 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 4: Assessing IPEF - Promise, Priorities, ProspectsAfter the U.S. pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was styled as the new anchor of U.S. trade policy in the region, with the lofty ambition of establishing the “rules of the road” for regional trade. For the most part, however, it has yet to match this ambition with substance. Beyond a supply chain agreement and an agreement to launch a framework for cooperating on hydrogen technologies, IPEF has yet to provide concrete deliverables for its members.
Some observers have noted that IPEF is not a traditional trade...
2023-07-2750 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 4 - What Happened at the SLD?The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is a track 1 intergovernmental security conference held in Singapore that gathers participants from across the region to discuss issues such as U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific. Though U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin did not meet Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu for substantive discussions, concerns about the relationship between Washington and Beijing underpinned every session. Whether during the respective addresses by Secretary Austin and Gen. Li, or during sessions on resolving regional tensions and assessing Asia’s evolving maritime security order, participants explored how this rivalry would shape the future of the region. Jo...
2023-06-2919 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 3 – What does the Debt Ceiling Crisis Mean for U.S. Foreign Policy in Asia?When the Republican Party took control of the U.S. House of Representatives following the 2022 midterm elections, many observers expected the Republican Party and the White House to engage in a showdown over the debt ceiling. Beyond economic fallout and damage to U.S. prestige in Asia, a default could also have had serious consequences for Washington’s ability to commit to its foreign policy-related expenditures. Now that the dust from the crisis is settling, it’s a good time to break down the bipartisan budget agreement struck between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to understand what...
2023-06-0816 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 2 - The U.S. Credibility Problem in AsiaAs geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing increase, Washington’s credibility as a security presence and partner in Asia is under scrutiny. A hawkish stance that promotes military deployments would raise questions about Washington’s willingness to commit to a potential war in Asia. Converse, a dovish approach that cedes parts of Asia to China’s sphere of influence would severely damage Washington’s credibility with its allies. Finding a middle ground between these two credibility issues will be an important objective for U.S. strategy in the region.
Join us for this short episode as we discuss this credibili...
2023-05-1918 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaAsk USP Episode 1 - What is AUKUS, and What Does it Mean?Security and foreign policy observers in Southeast Asia have been abuzz about announcements surrounding the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) trilateral defence agreement, but reactions in Southeast Asia have been mixed. Some observers have fretted over the agreement auguring an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO), while others have expressed concerns about the agreement triggering a nuclear arms race in the region. Above all, there are unanswered questions about what this agreement means for regional stability, and how it dovetails with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Join us for this short episode as we...
2023-04-2817 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 3: Awaiting a Thaw? U.S.-Vietnam Ties in 2023Described as a “critical swing state” by Kurt Campbell, Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the National Security Council, Vietnam has been increasingly viewed as a key partner for the U.S. due to its strategic location and their common interest in opposing Chinese maritime aggression. Yet, the relationship between Washington and Hanoi has ostensibly cooled over the past year, with no major visits by U.S. leaders to Vietnam in 2022. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled his visit to Hanoi in July, while the anticipated visit by the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and a requested visit from...
2023-03-2332 minEngaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 2: A New Era Under Marcos? U.S.-Philippines Ties in 2023The past few months have seen a flurry of activity in U.S.-Philippines ties. Under US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Washington and Manila are resuming and expanding security cooperation under the 2014 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA, which permits the U.S. to deploy conventional forces in the Philippines on a rotational basis. Cooperation is also growing in areas such as energy security, with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris unveiling a host of new initiatives such as a geothermal plant and a new energy dialogue during a state visit in November 2022. President...
2023-03-0244 min
Engaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast AsiaEpisode 1: The Eagle and the Garuda - U.S.-Indonesia Ties in 2023After languishing during the Trump Administration, U.S.-Indonesia ties appear to be on an upswing. In August 2021, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi remarked during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that a “new era” of bilateral ties would be central to the establishment of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Bilateral military cooperation and investments by U.S. tech giants have increased significantly, and the U.S. recently joined the Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership to mobilise US$20 billion of public and private finance to help Indonesia meet its emissions targets.
2023-02-0839 min