China's growing influence rattles S.E. Asia as U.S. retreats, survey shows

By John Geddie
SINGAPORE, Jan 16 (Reuters) - China's rising economic and
political clout in Southeast Asia is a growing source of concern
as U.S. influence wanes under President Donald Trump, according
to a survey of officials, academics and other professionals
published on Thursday.
Of the 1,300 respondents to The State of Southeast Asia
survey, the proportion distrusting China rose to over 60% from
below 52% in 2019. Nearly 40% said they thought China was "a
revisionist power and intends to turn Southeast Asia into its
sphere of influence".
"The region's concerns with China's substantial and still
growing influence stems from the uncertainty in the manner that
China uses its enormous power," said Tang Siew Mun of the
Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute behind the survey.
"China's assertiveness in the South China Sea and Beijing's
penchant for weaponising trade is enough to cause heightened
concern that China's rise may not be as peaceful as it is
purported to be."
That said, on one of the most important current issues, the
future of 5G networks, Huawei HWT.UL and other Chinese
telecoms companies were considered better bets than their U.S.
rivals, despite U.S. accusations that Huawei equipment could be
used for spying.
Almost 80% of respondents - mainly from public office,
academia and think-tanks - picked China as the most influential
economic power, up from 73% in 2019. Some 52% said it was the
most important political and strategic power, up from 45%.
The large majority of those that picked China in both
surveys said they were worried about this growing influence.
Respondents from Vietnam and the Philippines - who have long
sparred with Beijing over claims in the South China Sea - were
the most distrusting of China.
Accusations of China's mistreatment of Muslims in Xinjiang,
its handling of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and its use
of economic muscle were also flagged as concerns in the report.
The number of respondents that picked the United States as
the foremost political power in the region retreated to 27% from
31%. On the economic front, it held steady at 8% from 2019, the
first year the survey was carried out.
Over three quarters of respondents said U.S. engagement with
Southeast Asia had decreased under Trump compared with his
predecessor, Barack Obama.
When it came to the deployment of 5G mobile networks,
Korea's Samsung 005930.KS was preferred by nearly 40% of
respondents. But Huawei and other Chinese companies were seen as
preferable to European or U.S. suppliers.
Chinese companies came top in Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.

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