Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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The geopolitical landscape in Southeast Asia has undergone significant transformation, challenging the region’s traditional approaches to economic security. The heightened US-China rivalry has created an environment of geo-economic fragmentation, forcing ASEAN and its member states to reconsider their strategic approaches. This rivalry has led to reconfigurations in global supply chains, resulting in trade diversion and fragmented production networks that threaten ASEAN’s longstanding emphasis on economic interdependence and cooperation.

Economic security in Southeast Asia has historically been framed within the concept of “comprehensive security,” focusing on economic development and integration as strategic approaches to achieve regional security. ASEAN has implemented various initiatives like the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), and broader frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to foster closer economic integration and ensure security.

However, emerging challenges – including digital transformation accelerated by the pandemic, and demographic trends like aging populations – require rethinking traditional security paradigms. Climate change further complicates the region’s economic security landscape by affecting food production and commodity price stability. The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency, with his emphasis on reshoring and protectionist policies, poses additional challenges to the region’s export-oriented economies.

As ASEAN navigates this complex environment, several questions emerge: How should Southeast Asia strengthen economic security in the face of current geopolitical challenges? Should the concept of economic security be redefined to align with today’s geoeconomic realities? Can ASEAN maintain its relevance as a champion of regional economic security? What role can other actors and institutions play in complementing ASEAN’s efforts to manage external shocks and promote economic resilience?

Counterpoint Southeast Asia (CSA) is a policy brief series that tackles strategic and complex questions facing Southeast Asia by presenting the perspectives of regional academics and policy experts. It is organised by the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.

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Speakers:

Dr Denis Hew, Senior Research Fellow, Centre on Asia and Globalisation, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
Ms Joanne Lin, Senior Fellow and Co-Coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore
Ms Catharine Kho, Senior Economist, ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO)
Dr Pasha L. Hsieh, Jean Monnet Chair Professor, Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University

Moderator:
Dr Barbora Valockova, Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre on Asia and Globalisation (CAG), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore

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