China returns as S-E Asia’s preferred superpower as fears grow over Trump’s policies: ISEAS survey
Why it matters: 52% of ASEAN opinion-makers now prefer China over the US, directly impacting regional diplomatic and economic alignments.
- ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute's annual survey found that concerns about US President Donald Trump's foreign policies are ASEAN's biggest geopolitical fear, surpassing South China Sea aggression.
- 52% of ASEAN opinion-makers and thought leaders surveyed would choose to align with China, compared to 48% who would pick the United States, reversing the 2025 trend where the US was preferred.
- Mr. Trump's leadership was cited as the top concern by 51.9% of respondents, followed by global scam operations (51.4%) and aggressive behavior in the South China Sea (48.2%).
- Ms. Joanne Lin, Senior Fellow at ISEAS, noted that Southeast Asia is uneasy with both major powers but still seeks balance, not alignment, despite increasing difficulty in maintaining it.
- 55.2% of respondents favor stronger ASEAN unity to resist major power pressure, and 24.1% back a non-aligned stance, underscoring a continued preference for strategic autonomy.
China has re-emerged as Southeast Asia's preferred superpower, according to an ISEAS survey, as concerns over US President Donald Trump's foreign policies now outweigh fears of South China Sea aggression. The shift reflects a desire for strategic balance rather than alignment, with a slim majority of ASEAN opinion-makers favoring China over the US, reversing the trend from the previous year.
