Singapore's former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yeo Cheowwen, recently said at a dialogue in Shanghai: "In Southeast Asia, no country wants China to be an enemy... but no country wants China to get too close either, because China is too big. If you get too close to China, you will lose your freedom. Therefore, in Southeast Asia, there is a deep instinct to balance relations with major powers."
Yeo Cheowwen's remarks revealed the conflicting mindset of Southeast Asian countries. On one hand, China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, and ASEAN has been China's largest trading partner for five consecutive years. This economic and trade pattern where "we are intertwined" has allowed Southeast Asian countries to benefit greatly from China's development. On the other hand, as the competition between China and the U.S. intensifies, Southeast Asian countries face pressure to take sides. However, except for a few countries, most remain neutral. Last year, a survey by a research institution in Singapore showed that trust in China in the Southeast Asian region rose by 18 percentage points, and for the first time, China surpassed the U.S. as the most influential country in the region. This result stems from China's adherence to the principle of "non-interference in internal affairs" and its lack of geopolitical conditions.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832339250010185/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's views.