     IntroductionAssociation of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have repeatedly expressed their concerns regarding rising US-China tensions over the past 

Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have repeatedly expressed their concerns regarding rising US-China tensions over the past few years. While addressing the 

 for Asia – held at Boao, Hainan Province -- often dubbed as China’s Davos, the Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong who has emphatically earlier stated, that Singapore would not like to choose between Washington and Beijing warned against further downward slope of ties between Beijing and Washingon. Said

 are being overshadowed by national security concerns. Countries are pursuing self-reliance and resilience by onshoring, or friend-shoring, their supply chains,”

The Singapore PM  also said that he hoped that relations between Washington and Beijing stabilise so that they could cooperate on 

. Lee Hsien Loong also said that any deterioration of ties between China and US will have serious 

. This was the Singapore PM’s first visit to China in four years.

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, who undertook his first visit to China (March 29-April 1, 2023), after coming into office in November 2022 also spoke at the Forum, and underscored the point that competition in the sphere of technology will not benefit anyone. The Malaysian PM called for intellectual property rights protection and 

 “Unfettered competition must give way to spirited collaboration.”

 has been drawing criticism, for pushing many countries into debts, Anwar Ibrahim hailed the project, and said that it was essential to regain the momentum of the BRI.

Malaysia shares robust economic relations with China. China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 14 years and Malaysia’s bilateral trade with China surpassed $ 200 billion (

 the Malaysian PM said that his country would seek to benefit from China’s “success”

During his address, Lee Hsien Loong also stated, that ASEAN would seek to cultivate economic ties and not get bogged down by geopolitical wrangling between countries. This would not only benefit the region economically, but also 

 when they arise and ensure that ASEAN is a “more stable and balanced region”.

 would impede the region’s progress. He also made the point that China will continue with economic reforms and could be an “anchor for world peace”. This was important, since in recent years many commentators have been arguing that Xi Jinping’s economic policies are responsible for many of the challenges which China is currently facing.

Meetings between Xi Jinping and ASEAN leaders

The Malaysian PM also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and both sides discussed the need for strengthening ties. While in the past, Anwar Ibrahim has been perceived to be pro-west. Immediately after taking over as PM, Ibrahim sent out a clear message, that he would seek not just to maintain the status quo but improve ties with China. Apart from seeking to strengthen economic cooperation, during his meeting with Anwar Ibrahim, Xi Jinping said both countries should work closely and 

During his meeting with the Singapore PM, Xi Jinping spoke about the need for strengthening cooperation but not allow 

 The remarks of the Singapore and Malaysian PM highlight the point, that ASEAN does not seek to view ties with China and US from a zero-sum perspective and does not want to get trapped in the conflict between both countries. While some ASEAN countries like Vietnam -- and to some extent Indonesia and Philippines -- may have benefited from the US-China tensions, with several US companies based in China shifting their operations to these countries, the growing China-US tensions pose a significant challenge to countries like Malaysia and Singapore which share robust ties with economic ties with both countries.

While ASEAN countries, like Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia, have subtly expressed their concern regarding China’s increasing economic clout as well as assertiveness in Asia, given their geographical location and economic dependence upon China, strained ties with Beijing are not a realistic option for them.

Boao Forum and ASEAN’s balancing act between China and the US

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