| ID | 177652 |
| Title Proper | Twin Chessboards of US-China Rivalry |
| Other Title Information | Impact on the Geostrategic Supply and Demand in Post-Pandemic Asia |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Kuik, Cheng-Chwee |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This essay offers a small state perspective on US-China rivalry
in the post-COVID-19 era. After tracing the emergence of
the “twin chessboards” of big power rivalry, namely, high
and low politics competitions, the essay assesses the impact
of these competitions on the post-pandemic Asian order,
with a focus on Southeast Asia. I argue that while US-China competition has been rising rapidly in high politics (that
is, in the military field), the increasing importance of low
politics—infrastructure and connectivity development, technology, trade, finance, public health, and other functional
areas—is shaping the prospects, pace, and patterns of the
onset of Cold War 2.0. The intensified US-China animosity
across the twin chessboards is widening the scope of the
competition, increasing the number of players, and mounting pressure on all smaller states. Arguably, however, it is
also providing these smaller states with more maneuvering
space. These developments reshape geostrategic supply and
demand in Southeast Asia. Accordingly, the smaller states
are developing additional layers of partnerships with actors
near and far, thereby broadening their hedging options in
an increasingly uncertain and high-stake environment. |
| `In' analytical Note | Asian Perspectives Vol. 45, No.1; Winter 2021: p.157–176 |
| Journal Source | Asian Perspectives Vol: 45 No 1 |
| Key Words | Asia ; Geostrategic ; Southeast ; High Politics ; Low Politics ; US-China Relations ; Smaller States ; Big Power Politics ; supply and demand, hedging. |