China’s Digital Yuan and the Fight for Southeast Asia’s Financial Infrastructure episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 17, 2026 · 17 MIN

China’s Digital Yuan and the Fight for Southeast Asia’s Financial Infrastructure

from Insider: Short of War · host Irregular Warfare Initiative

This episode analyzes China’s digital yuan as a tool for irregular warfare, exploring how Beijing’s state-controlled currency competes with Japan and South Korea’s stablecoin models for dominance over Southeast Asia’s financial infrastructure.  

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 17, 2026

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This audio article examines the strategic expansion of China’s digital yuan (e-CNY) into Southeast Asia, positioning it as a potential ”operating system” for national economies that offers efficiency at the cost of surveillance and sovereignty. The discussion contrasts this centralized CBDC model—which grants Beijing a potential ”kill switch” over foreign assets—against the decentralized stablecoin initiatives led by Japan and South Korea. Key developments covered include the People’s Bank of China’s 2025 decision to pay interest on the e-CNY and the broader implications of digital currency in irregular competition.

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China’s Digital Yuan and the Fight for Southeast Asia’s Financial Infrastructure

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