As Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares for a landmark visit to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, Southeast Asia is emerging as a vital hub in reshaping regional order. In a thought-provoking edition of Global South Voices, experts and journalists from across the region discuss a reality far richer than the oft-simplified Western narratives.
While critics portray the region as a chessboard for great-power influence—casting its impressive economic strides as unsustainable—the conversation reveals a dynamic interplay of local innovation and strategic partnerships. Host Mushahid Hussain Sayed, co-chair of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, leads the discussion with insights from figures like Francis Manglapus, secretary-general of the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International, and reporters Faisal Jamal, Keo Piseth, and Dao Duy Binh.
Adding further depth, former Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar and Cambodian National Assembly chairman Sous Yara provide nuanced perspectives on how China's proactive engagement is complementing the complex regional landscape. Their analysis suggests that despite contrasting Western influences, Southeast Asia is charting an independent course—one that resonates with young leaders, tech innovators, and global citizens alike.
This dialogue underscores that Southeast Asia is much more than a battleground for external powers. It is a space where cultural vibrancy, economic resurgence, and strategic foresight converge to shape a future that is both resilient and forward-thinking.
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Who's really shaping Southeast Asia's future: China or the West?
cgtn.com
