China has a better track record than the US for building system in the area, according to political scientist Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, and is therefore more likely to win people’s trust and goodwill.
” As most South Asian countries are still plagued by fiscal problems, they welcome any kind of investment and are not able to make their own decisions. They don’t have any cards to play, Oh said.  ,
For instance, Indonesia is in discussions with China about expanding its high-speed rail system to join Jakarta and Surabaya.  ,
With the exception of the Philippines,” Almost all the states in ASEAN will continue to pursue structural cooperation,” he added.  ,
However, Oh maintained that the US is unlikely to invest in international projects with its recent protectionist stance under Trump in spite of Rubio’s latest remarks. This may cause more people in the area to “favorably” China’s development.  ,
” Seattle in Southeast Asia ( will be more ) susceptible to high-tech from China because they hope their current economic conditions can be improved both quantitatively and subjectively,” he added.
Moreover, according to reports, China has switched to BRI leasing in favor of a more reasonable approach.
Compared to earlier years, it pledged 780 billion yuan ( US$ 106.6 billion ) in new funding for the Belt and Road Initiative, according to observers.
This signals a shift from expensive, enormous megaprojects like rail lines to” small yet intelligent” tasks like schools and hospitals, according to Grace Stanhope, a study connect with the Lowy Institute’s Indo-Pacific Development Centre.  ,  ,
They are using significantly less debts than they did before 2016,” she said. And then, she added, less Belt and Road jobs are being signed in Southeast Asia.  ,
She continued, nevertheless, that Beijing will continue with the cash strategy for the region’s infrastructure, citing how plans for a Vietnam-China railway were completed in February. She also argued that the region’s infrastructure strategy is undoubtedly no dead in the water.  ,
” The emphasis on infrastructure is unquestionably also present. So it’s not gone ahead, it’s not even dead, she said.  ,  ,
The Philippines will be a “laggard” if it does not employ China in the economic sphere according to sea concerns, according to political scientist Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, whose analysis includes the current tense relations with China that have affected equipment projects and negatively impacted fruit exports and hospitality.  ,
The Philippines won’t be able to draw on China’s advantages, he said, not to mention the development of electric vehicles, tourism, natural technologies, offshore wind, solar, and infrastructure investment.
Catahum, the town main in Tagum, agrees.  ,
He wants both places to put their differences away and returning to the table of negotiations for the infrastructure projects, even though he is frustrated that China has pulled funding for the Mindanao railroad and is perceived by Filipinos as the enemy in the sea debate.  ,
We are Filipinos, and our attitudes are shared by our fellow countrymen. However, I believe that the only way to stop them is to combat them. At the negotiating table, they may talk about it,” Catahum said.  ,
” We hope that these issues will be resolved by our rulers. Engage in conversation with China, he said.  ,
Kiki Siregar provided further monitoring.