The Biden Administration's Policy Toward Southeast Asia:Momentum,Motivation and Challenges

After Biden took office,the United States,on the basis of inheriting the main framework of the Trump administration's Southeast Asia policy,has gradually increased its strategic input in Southeast Asia to expand the depth and breadth of cooperation with Southeast Asian countries.First,consolidate its diplomatic influence.

The Biden Administration's Policy Toward Southeast Asia: Momentum,Motivation and Challenges

Since the beginning of the Biden administration,the United States has attached great importance to Southeast Asia and gradually increased strategic input to the region,with a focus on diplomatic,economic and military dimensions,in a bid to expand and deepen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries.Relevant policy measures reflect the new trend of the Biden administration’s Southeast Asia policy,namely focusing on“whole-ofgovernment”competition with China,enhancing U.S.strategic influence over Southeast Asian countries,and strengthening strategic reshaping of regional mechanisms such as ASEAN to include the region in the core area of the U.S.Indo-Pacific Strategy.Despite the Biden administration’s aggressive diplomacy toward Southeast Asia,it is less likely that Southeast Asian countries will fall into the U.S.camp due to the aggravating political polarization in the U.S.,limited US foreign aid funds,the deepening economic dependence of ASEAN countries on China,and their cautious attitude of“not to take sides”.