Southeast Asia's strategic approach of hedging between the U.S. and China has become increasingly crucial as regional tensions rise, particularly in the South China Sea. This strategy allows ASEAN members to maintain balanced relations without fully aligning with either superpower, aiming to preserve their autonomy and stability. However, growing assertiveness from China could force countries like the Philippines to reconsider this delicate balance. The future of this strategy hinges on continued careful diplomacy amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry.
Read more at Georgetown Journal of International Affairs.