By focusing on three important pillars: intelligence-sharing, appearance, and multilateralism, the US can strengthen faith and alliances in Southeast Asia and change the state’s prevailing attitudes toward the tremendous power.
The region is home to significant US allies and possible allies who are most susceptible to Chinese influence and power forecast, which makes perceptions especially important during this time of intense energy competitors.
According to the Yusof Ishak Institute’s” The State of Southeast Asia 2023″ record, elites in Southeast Asia now believe that China has greater economic, political, and proper influence than the US or any other country.
These perceptions have a significant impact on the decisions made by rulers and frontrunners in Southeast Asia, but the US needs to change how it is perceived. Luckily, there are a few straightforward activities that may change how Southeast Asia views the US, all of which can be put into practice almost right away.
Intelligence-sharing
The US does create an cleverness- sharing system with allies and partners in the Indo- Pacific, especially with Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) member states. This network will enable the US to immediately inform its allies about China’s revolutionary practices and increase accountability.
Each nation should be able to benefit from globalism when dealing with China. Information sharing may also show that the US is a trustworthy strategic partner who keeps the passions of allies and partners in thinking.
Through the “assertive clarity” program, where China’s intense tactics are exposed for the area and the world to see, Sealight’s Ray Powell and Dr. Benjamin Goirigolzarri have already demonstrated the effectiveness of increased knowledge sharing.
This program has encouraged cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines and raised awareness of the presence of other East Asian countries in the fight against Chinese aggression.
Collaboration among ASEAN member states will be encouraged by the visibility of Taiwanese tactics and US-driven predictive analysis, giving them a leg up in negotiations with China that solitary states would not have to do working just unilaterally.
Being Current
The US currently supports places in Southeast Asia through various means, from international aid to humanitarian aid, joint military guards, exercises, and markets. Just being there frequently paves the way for faith and confidence.
To foster connectivity and mutually beneficial relationships, we should expand the integration of military and civilian organizations with South Asian partner countries. The more people and governments in Southeast Asia see Americans as a source of support, the more likely they will consider the benefits of extending their connection with the US.
However, providing assistance and being physically present is not enough; instead, the US needs to do better by highlighting the support it offers.
The US does a bad job of marketing the support it provides, its function and influence to other countries. A country in Southeast Asia was the target of a pandemic when I collaborated with the State Department to offer a plane total of Covid products, only to have the overshadowed by a Chinese public relations campaign that highlighted a much smaller aid package.
The benefits of the support and cooperation in the Indo- Pacific may be communicated better to local audiences, the recipient country’s public and government, and the global community. Making sure nations are aware of where aid comes from will help them remember the US as a trustworthy partner.
This will win the support of the general public, which could influence government decision-makers in favor of the US.
Promoting multilateralism
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi famously stated,” China is a big country and you are small countries, and that is a fact,” during a speech to the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi in 2010. This covert threat was intended to ensnare the gathered countries into following China’s instructions.
To combat this, the US must support multinational corporations like ASEAN or encourage the development of what Richard Heydarian refers to as “minilateral” cooperation in order to end the region’s long-standing paroxysm on crucial issues.
By promoting and ratifying multilateral cooperation, we encourage and strengthen partner countries ‘ economies by reducing their reliance on China for economic support. This leveled the playing field and creates more opportunities for multilateral cooperation on issues involving China.
Expanding cooperation and presence, increasing intelligence sharing, and promoting multilateralism in Southeast Asia will strengthen the region’s resilience and remind them that the US is a sincere and lasting partner.
These straightforward initiatives will help to boost confidence, change perceptions in Southeast Asia, and foster trust and cooperation with the US, thereby reducing China’s influence in the area.
Major David Geaney, a Logistics Officer for the Air Force, has spent the Middle East and Pacific on numerous occasions. His articles on China have been published in the Journal of Indo- Pacific Affairs, Foreign Policy, Task &, Purpose, and Defense News. He has also appeared on Air University’s Indo-Pacific Visions and as a panelist for the International Studies Association.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, do not necessarily reflect those of the US government, Department of Defense, or Air Force.