How do SEA countries hedge against US-China rivalry? With Prof Cheng-Chwee Kuik

Southeast Asia isn’t choosing sides—it’s hedging.EAI Deputy Director Dr Chen Gang speaks with Prof Cheng-Chwee Kuik of the National University of Malaysia about how Southeast Asian countries are navigating intensifying U.S.-China tensions.Prof Kuik unpacks the logic of hedging—why it’s a deliberate, adaptive strategy—and reflects on how the region’s deepening ties with China bring both opportunities and risks.Key Highlights:  00:00 How Southeast Asia-China relations have evolved in recent years   03:59 How pragmatic considerations drive Southeast Asian states’ hedging policies     09:40 The evolution of “dual hierarchies” in the Asian order, with the US traditionally leading the security hierarchy and China leading the economic hierarchy.  13:46 Potential risks and challenges amid growing economic ties between Southeast Asia and China  16:44 Future trends in Southeast Asia-China relations  This podcast episode was recorded on 29 May, 2025.East Asia Pulse is a podcast produced by the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). It provides in-depth analyses of political, economic and strategic trends in East Asia.Mailing list: http://tiny.cc/eai-emailingLinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/east-asian-institute/YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/EastAsianInstituteNUS