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Maria Siow

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The re-election of Donald Trump as US president earlier this month brought with it fresh challenges and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, where several countries have also witnessed leadership changes.
Japan’s parliament last week voted to keep Shigeru Ishiba, who had only been elected last month, as Japan’s prime minister.
He had already extended his congratulations to Trump, expressing hope that bilateral ties could be brought “to new heights”.
Before becoming prime minister, Ishiba had called for an “Asian version of Nato” and suggested that US nuclear weapons in the Asia-Pacific could be shared - a notion likely to stoke tensions in the region.
But as Ishiba braces himself for Trump’s unpredictable and transactional approach to foreign policy, and the possibility of new trade barriers, Ishiba might wish to – like one of his predecessors, Shinzo Abe – forge personal ties with Trump.


Ishiba might also hope that Trump – who takes office in January – keeps the current administration’s labelling of Japan as “first” among Aukus partners, the security pact comprising the US, Britain and Australia on projects tied to advanced capabilities.
Last month, Prabowo Subianto took over as Indonesian president, and in a phone call to congratulate Trump last week, both leaders expressed admiration for each other, with Trump saying he would like to visit the Southeast Asian nation “sometime”.
However, analysts have expressed concerns about whether Prabowo can build a rapport with Trump while staving off US protectionism and preventing the new US administration’s climate change policies from affecting Indonesia’s green industries.
Meanwhile, during Prabowo’s visit to Beijing earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that Indonesia should join China in leading the Global South and jointly promote Asian values centred on “peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration”.
In Vietnam, Luong Cuong was sworn in as his country’s new president and head of state last month, after To Lam took over as Communist Party general secretary in August.


During Lam’s visit to China in August, the two countries pledged to deepen cooperation in security, defence and rail upgrades, while also bringing relations to a “new level”.
While making it clear in September that Hanoi’s relations with Beijing were “a strategic choice and a top priority” for foreign policy, Lam also met US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly later that month, when both leaders discussed a myriad of issues, including escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
Over in Singapore, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office in May, congratulated Trump on his “overwhelming mandate”, while describing US-China relations as being in “a more challenging place”.
With many predicting that the city state is unlikely to shift from its hedging policy between Washington and Beijing, Wong’s predecessor and current senior minister, Lee Hsien Loong, has played down fears of a conflict over Taiwan, pointing out that the “four-year horizon” for the next US presidency is too short to predict security dynamics.
According to the findings of a survey, more Singaporeans believe that China’s influence in Southeast Asia has grown in recent years, compared with that of the US.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who became Thailand’s prime minister in August, also spoke with Trump this week, during which both leaders pledged to support each other’s administrations.


In a delicate balancing act, Thailand is poised to become the first country to take part in Chinese and US-led space exploration initiatives, despite the two powers being seen as rivals in a new space race.
Even so, the annual Falcon Strike exercise between US treaty ally Thailand and China – the largest source of arms for Bangkok – was in the spotlight this year because it included rare combat elements.
In Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as interim leader in August. A student-led uprising had forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to leave the country after more than 15 years in power.
While Hasina’s departure is said to heighten challenges for the US and India in curbing Beijing’s influence in the region, analysts said that Yunus’ past support of the Democrats and previous criticisms of Trump were likely to be put aside as Yunus seeks to improve ties with Washington.
And as he considers his next move with Washington, Yunus also has to bear in mind Trump’s earlier condemnation of “barbaric violence against the Hindus, Christians and other minorities” who have been attacked and looted by mobs since Hasina fled.
60-Second Catch-up
Japan downplays Trump pick Tulsi Gabbard’s warnings of its military threat to US.
Japan braces for Trump’s return, fears trade war and military pressure: ‘we just do not know’.
Video: Divisions in Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party pose barrier to PM Ishiba’s policy plans.
Trump showers praise on Indonesia’s Prabowo during congratulatory call.
Video: Trump showers praise on Indonesia’s Prabowo during congratulatory call.
Opinion: Pragmatic Southeast Asia will adapt to Trump’s ‘America first’ agenda.
Lee Hsien Loong on ‘Singapore’s calculations’ in foreign policy and US fears over Taiwan conflict.
Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto urged to join China in leading Global South.
‘Complete success’: China to work with Vietnam on rail upgrade, security and defence.
Opinion: Political uncertainties in Japan and US may yet shake markets.
China to hold air force drills with Thailand as it bolsters Southeast Asia defence ties.
Opinion: Faced with Trump 2.0, Asia-Pacific leaders must figure out what they truly want.
Deep Dives

Will Trump’s presidency reshape Southeast Asia’s trade, security landscape?

Trump’s tariff threat and disdain for defence allies coupled with ‘China hawks’ in his cabinet pose great risk for the region, experts say

Southeast Asian nations will face heightened uncertainty over security and trade when US president-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, but the ability to adapt has been part of the region’s “psyche and strategy” when dealing with Washington for a long time, experts say.
The biggest risk for the region would be how the next administration approaches its defence partnerships and network of alliances, said Hoang Thi Ha, a researcher at Singapore’s ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
Read more.

Is Japan’s Ishiba too ‘weak’ to deal with Trump? Split views on talks

Conservatives urge Ishiba to wait until his domestic political position stabilises, while others say avoiding Trump could pose greater risks

Japanese conservatives are urging Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to delay his planned meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump, saying his weak political position and “unstable government” make him vulnerable to demands that could harm Japan, while others insist that engaging now is crucial to maintaining strong US relations.
In a column published by the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, one of the country’s leading conservative think tanks, director Takashi Arimoto said Trump “prefers to deal with strong foreign leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu”, regardless of whether they led democracies or dictatorships.
Read more.

Japan’s leader is calling for nuclear sharing with the US. Will it deter China?

If Shigeru Ishiba’s proposal becomes a reality, it will raise tensions and could drive Beijing to ‘push further on its own nuclear build-up’

Japan’s new leader has proposed Nato-like nuclear sharing with the United States, a move analysts say would stoke tensions in the region and see China “sharpening its strategies”.
Last month, before he was elected as prime minister on September 27, Shigeru Ishiba called for an “Asian version of Nato” to be created and said sharing of US nuclear weapons in the Asia-Pacific should be considered.
Read more.

How should Indo-Pacific leaders deal with Trump 2.0? Analysts say get personal

Shinzo Abe, Japanese prime minister during Trump’s first term, is cited as an example of how to work with the US president-elect

Indo-Pacific leaders may need to play up whatever personal ties they have with Donald Trump to manage their countries’ relations with the US in the coming years, analysts say, amid concerns that a return of his “America First” approach could weaken the US commitment to the region.
Following Trump’s re-election to the White House on Tuesday, many world leaders chose to use X, the social media site owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk, to extend their congratulations to the president-elect.
Read more.

China and Singapore must boost coordination as ‘stabilising forces’: Wang

Beijing’s top diplomat tells counterpart their countries can build on their strategic partnership in a world beset by turmoil and chaos

China and Singapore must strengthen their strategic coordination and communication amid a world of turmoil, foreign minister Wang Yi told his visiting counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing on Monday.
The meeting was their second in less than two months after the envoys spoke on the sidelines of a regional ministerial conference in Vientiane, Laos, on July 27.
Read more.

Is China looking to ‘divide and conquer’ as it boosts defence ties with Vietnam?

Top Chinese military commander’s Hanoi trip signals ‘substantial improvement’ in relations, analyst says

A rare trip to Hanoi by China’s most senior military official points to improved ties between the two neighbours, with one analyst suggesting a “Vietnam model” for tackling disputes over the South China Sea.
General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of China’s powerful Central Military Commission, travelled to Vietnam last week for a two-day visit. He met Vietnam’s new Communist Party leader To Lam and Luong Cuong, the new president, along with other senior figures.
Read more.
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New leaders in Asia, as well as the US, create questions as Donald Trump’s return looms

US president-elect Donald Trump. Photo: AP

US president-elect Donald Trump. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Photo: Xinhua

Photo: Kyodo

Photo: EPA-EFE

Donald Trump’s US election win creates uncertainty for China and the world

Hundreds of decorated cars and trucks with supporters of US president-elect Donald Trump participate in a victory parade in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: AFP

US President Joe Biden with president-elect Donald Trump during a transition meeting at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Photo: dpa

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Photo: AFP

Photo: Reuters

As the dust settles on Trump’s win, what’s in store for US-China relations?

A supporter of the Republican Party attends an election watch party in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo: Xinhua

US Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump speaks during his election night party flanked by family and friends at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre in West Palm Beach. Photo: dpa

Photo: AP

Photo: Dickson Lee

Photo: Shutterstock

Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

US presidential elections looms, with impact to be felt across Asia

US Vice-President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are seen on a screen as they participate in a presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Photo: TNS

Early voters fill out their ballots at the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House in Rochester. Photo: AP

Illustration: Henry Wong

US-China tech takes a turn as TSMC chips found in Huawei’s AI processors

An employee produces semiconductor chips at a microelectronics enterprise in Hai’an, Jiangsu province. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

A worker producing semiconductor chips at a workshop in Suqian, in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP

Photo: Shutterstock Images

China’s economy saw its slowest growth in more than a year. Can it still hit its target?

China Railway workers assemble a pipe jacking machine at the construction site of an underground railway station, in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. Photo: Reuters

A woman wearing a face mask shops in a clothing store in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE

Illustration: Brian Wang

Photo: Weibo

Photo: China News Service via Getty Images

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In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look at how the Trump administration will fare across a much-changed political landscape in Asia


In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look at how the Trump administration will fare across a much-changed political landscape in Asia.


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Global Impact

Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s China policy

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look at how the Trump administration will fare across a much-changed political landscape in Asia

In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look at how the Trump administration will fare across a much-changed political landscape in Asia