Southeast Asia and Oceania are increasingly important regions for the United States and for Asia writ large. All countries throughout these regions—including Australia, New Zealand and the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—seek to balance growing economic interdependence with China and looking to the United States as the guarantor of regional security. From Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei to Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Burma (Myanmar), the importance of such diverse members of ASEAN is growing. Significant security issues include: the ability of ASEAN states to foster effective security institutions and to build security cooperation both among Southeast Asian countries and with other Asian nations such as India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia; the future of U.S. alliances with Australia, Thailand and the Philippines and emerging partnerships with other ASEAN countries, New Zealand and Pacific island states; and the risk emanating from contentious maritime disputes in the South China Sea involving six claimants (Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam) but potentially affecting the freedom of navigation for the entire international community.
Derwin Pereira Southeast Asian Foreign Policy Roundtables
The Derwin Pereira Southeast Asian Foreign Policy Roundtables brings together high-level experts – including current and former government officials – to discuss economic, diplomatic and security issues in Southeast Asia. The ultimate goal of the Roundtables is to provide recommendations for the next administration.
Highlights
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Laos in the World Spotlight
Reports
President Barack Obama will find major governments and international organizations heavily involved in Laos1 when he arrives in Vientiane to attend the East Asian Summit in Se...
By Frank L. Albert
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Sustaining the Rebalance in Southeast Asia
Reports
Southeast Asia’s global rise illustrates its promise and its pitfalls. As with growing global interdependence, there are pluses and minuses that President Barack Obama’s succe...
By Patrick M. Cronin
