China Outranks US As Preferred Ally In Southeast Asia: Survey

In a recent shift of geopolitical dynamics, a survey reveals that Southeast Asian nations now favor China over the U.S. as their primary alignment choice.

What Happened: A recent survey by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, showed China’s popularity in Southeast Asia increasing from 38.9% last year to 50.5% in 2024, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. The survey included 1,994 Southeast Asians, with Muslim-majority nations like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei showing a preference for China.

The report suggests that the intensifying rivalry between China and the U.S. has sparked concerns about the U.S.’s expanding strategic and political influence, leading to a decline in confidence in the U.S. While the U.S. continues to be a vital security presence, Southeast Asian nations are increasingly turning to China as a crucial financier and trading partner.

The survey also pointed to doubts about the effectiveness of the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, contributing to the shift in alignment. China is now perceived as the region’s most influential economic and political-strategic power.

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Although the Israel-Hamas conflict has emerged as a significant geopolitical concern in the region, its impact on the U.S.’s standing among regional nations is uncertain. Despite the overall shift towards China, the U.S. still holds majority support from the Philippines and Vietnam, which are embroiled in territorial disputes with Beijing.

Why It Matters: The shift in alignment comes amid a series of events that have influenced the geopolitical landscape. In February, a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research suggested that the US, China and India could alternate as leaders of the global economy throughout this century.

In March, China’s President Xi Jinping met with American business leaders in Beijing to reignite foreign investment interests. However, in April, China was accused of spreading unverified reports about Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen planning to escape in a U.S. plane if war broke out with China.

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