Charted: What Southeast Asia Thinks About China & The U.S. What Southeast Asia Thinks About China & the U.S. Feelings Towards China Feelings Towards America -

Charted: What Southeast Asia Thinks About China & The U.S. What Southeast Asia Thinks About China & the U.S. Feelings Towards China Feelings Towards America

May 04, 2024Jeremy ParkinsonFinance0

What Southeast Asia Thinks About China & the U.S.This chart visualizes the results of a 2024 survey conducted by the ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Nearly 2,000 respondents were asked if they were worried or welcoming of rising Chinese and American geopolitical influence in their country.The countries surveyed all belong to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a political and economic union of 10 states in Southeast Asia.Feelings Towards ChinaOn average, a significant share of respondents from all 10 countries are worried about rising influence from both the U.S. and China.However, overall skepticism is higher for China, at 74% (versus 59% for U.S.).

Country Worried About Growing

Influence Welcome Growing

Influence

Brunei 58% 42%

Cambodia 66% 34%

Indonesia 57% 43%

Laos 68% 32%

Malaysia 56% 44%

Myanmar 95% 5%

Philippines 81% 19%

Singapore 74% 26%

Thailand 84% 16%

Vietnam 96% 4% Average 74% 27%

The recently-cooled but still active territorial concerns over the South China Sea may play a significant role in these responses, especially in countries which are also claimants over the sea.For example, in Vietnam over 95% of respondents said they were worried about China’s growing influence.Feelings Towards AmericaConversely, rising American influence is welcomed in two countries with competing claims in the South China Sea, the Philippines (69%) and Vietnam (55%).

Country Worried About Growing

Influence Welcome Growing

Influence

Brunei 73% 27%

Cambodia 58% 42%

Indonesia 73% 27%

Laos 79% 21%

Malaysia 68% 32%

Myanmar 45% 55%

Philippines 32% 69%

Singapore 37% 63%

Thailand 80% 20%

Vietnam 45% 55% Average 59% 41%

Despite this, on a regional average, more respondents worry about growing American influence (59%) than they welcome it (41%).Interestingly, it seems almost every ASEAN nation has a clear preference for one superpower over the other.The only exception is Thailand, where those surveyed were not a fan of either option, with 84% worried about China, and 80% worried about the U.S.More By This Author:Visualizing Global Gold Production In 2023 All Of The Grants Given By The U.S. CHIPS ActEconomic Growth Forecasts For G7 And BRICS Countries In 2024