This is a short video primer, preapred using NotebookLM, on the back of a whitepaper written in partnership with Priyanka Kishore, founder of Asia Decoded, and Stephen Olson, visiting senior fellow at ISEAS. It was first published here.
More than meets the eye
The story of trade between ASEAN and China appears to be one of unambiguous success, with bilateral trade skyrocketing over the past three decades.
But beneath these impressive headline figures, a more complex and nuanced story is unfolding. The impending upgrade to the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA 3.0) marks the latest chapter in this relationship, but it also raises critical questions about the strategic challenges facing the ASEAN region.
To truly benefit, ASEAN must prove it can channel geopolitics into growth and development, or risk being left more vulnerable to the very forces it seeks to manage.
A line from the paper encapsulates the scale of the challege for ASEAN: “Whether the agreement is remembered as a milestone in building resilience or a step towards deeper dependency will depend on ASEAN’s resolve (and policies).”
