This is why, despite growing great power tensions, ASEAN remains resilient and independent.
The U.S. and China A Competition That Sometimes Benefits ASEAN
Imagine a high-end market where two competing vendors aggressively try to win over a smart buyer:
China offers cheap prices but with long-term contracts that are difficult to break.
The U.S. provides high-quality goods but demands ideological loyalty in return.
Meanwhile, ASEAN the shrewd customer smiles politely and says, "We'll buy from both, but we won't pledge loyalty to either."
This is exactly what happens when Southeast Asian nations:
Accept large-scale investments from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) while keeping their security aligned with the U.S.
Welcome U.S. military aid but insist on maintaining strategic autonomy.
Engage with India and the EU to prevent overreliance on either Washington or Beijing.
This is not opportunism; it is high-level diplomatic finesse.
Sarcasm: The U.S. That Always Forgets and China That Overestimates Itself