Presenters:
Vina Nadjibulla
Vice-President, Research & Strategy, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
(Moderator)
Indu Saxena
Senior Fellow and Chief Operating Officer, Consortium of Indo-Pacific Researchers, New Jersey, USA
(Volume Co-Editor)
Stephen Nagy
Professor, International Christian University (Japan) and Senior Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
(Volume Co-Editor)
Event Overview:
The May 23 webinar, titled “Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific Construct,” featured insights from Dr. Indu Saxena and Dr. Stephen Nagy, moderated by Vina Nadjibulla. The discussion focused on the two scholars’ newly published book, which examines Southeast Asian countries’ roles within the Indo-Pacific, considering the competition in the region between the U.S. and China. Dr. Saxena highlighted the book’s goal of capturing diverse regional perspectives and emphasized Southeast Asia’s economic aspirations and strategic independence. The book explores how these countries balance their relationships with both the U.S. and China to maintain independence and meet national interests, using examples like China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
Dr. Nagy discussed the main findings of the book, emphasizing the region’s diversity and the importance of understanding local dynamics. He noted that while public statements often reflect neutrality, there are private concerns about Chinese influence. He stressed the value of smaller partnerships like the Quad and AUKUS in providing regional security and public benefits. He used Vietnam’s balanced engagement with multiple global powers and the Philippines' trilateral summit with the U.S. and Japan to show how these countries are navigating their strategic positions.
The Q&A session covered several regional issues, including ASEAN’s multilateral engagements and the strategic importance of smaller partnerships. Dr. Saxena talked about the proactive stance of the Philippines in the South China Sea and the challenges ASEAN faces in maintaining unity due to diverse member interests. Dr. Nagy addressed South Korea’s New Southern Policy and its increasing presence in Southeast Asia, as well as the complex impacts of the Middle East conflict on U.S. relations with Muslim-majority Southeast Asian countries. Both speakers highlighted the region’s focus on economic security and resilience, advocating for sustainable and reliable partnerships, particularly in energy security and critical minerals. The discussion concluded with a look toward future research, including a planned second volume addressing multi-alignment strategies and structural trends in the region.
