ASEAN's balancing act: Systemic risks of leveraging US-China rivalry for regional gain
Original framing: “Asean countries warned against exploiting US-China tensions for short-term gain” — South China Morning Post
It situates ASEAN’s current dilemma within a longer historical pattern of Southeast Asia serving as a buffer between competing empires, referencing the legacy of colonial and Cold‑War balancing.
The article foregrounds ASEAN’s historic role as a geopolitical buffer but largely omits indigenous, scientific, and marginalized viewpoints, limiting its depth of analysis.
By weaving together historical patterns, cross‑cultural dynamics, and future scenario modelling, a more holistic picture of systemic risk emerges. Incorporating civil‑society voices and rigorous risk‑assessment tools can transform ASEAN’s hedging from short‑term opportunism into a resilient, strategically autonomous stance. Ultimately, a trickster‑aware lens that questions dominant narratives will reveal hidden paradoxes and open space for innovative, inclusive solutions.