China strengthens Southeast Asia expertise as U.S. neglects regional knowledge infrastructure
Original framing: “China builds Southeast Asia expertise as US lets it wither” — South China Morning Post
The U.S. neglect of Southeast Asian studies echoes its post-Vietnam War retreat from the region, while China’s investment mirrors its 21st-century Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which seeks to replicate the Silk Road’s historical role in knowledge and trade exchange. This historical parallel reveals a pattern of knowledge as a tool of geopolitical strategy.
The current imbalance in Southeast Asian expertise between the U.S. and China reflects deeper structural issues in how knowledge is produced and valued in global geopolitics. The U.S.
has historically relied on decentralized, university-based scholarship, but its recent neglect of these institutions has created a vacuum that China is filling through state-backed academic infrastructure. However, both models fail to fully incorporate indigenous and local knowledge systems, which are essential for understanding the region’s complex social and ecological dynamics. ASEAN, as a regional actor, has the potential to mediate between these powers and promote a more inclusive, pluralistic approach to knowledge production. By reinvesting in area studies, promoting cross-cultural exchange, and integrating marginalized voices, the international community can move toward a more equitable and sustainable model of regional engagement.