East Asia Explorer
Date: May 10, 2025
The East Asia Explorer tracks evolving geopolitical trends, emerging security challenges, and progress towards regional integration in East Asia. It focuses on the ASEAN grouping, domestic and foreign policy developments in countries of East Asia and Oceania, great power contestation in the region, and India’s relations with ASEAN and its member countries.
In this issue, Dr. V. S. Seshadri analyses the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake that hit central Myanmar on March 28, 2025. He notes that international bodies, including the QUAD and ASEAN, pledged assistance and urged a ceasefire for safe delivery of humanitarian aid, with India leading the relief efforts through ‘Operation Brahma’. He further observes that because of the ongoing crisis, the Myanmar military has successfully regained control of Lashio from rebel forces under a ceasefire mediated by China, highlighting the increasing reliance of Myanmar on Beijing for support.
Dr. Pradeep Taneja examines Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam on April 14–15, 2025, which formed part of his broader Southeast Asian tour. He notes that Xi’s trip took place amid heightened trade tensions, following the Trump administration’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on both China and Vietnam. The visit served as a key platform for both countries to address trade issues, with leaders signing dozens of cooperation agreements to strengthen economic ties, particularly in areas such as supply chains, railway infrastructure, and green development. Despite this economic partnership, he points out there is an underlying mistrust between the countries due to ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea, which continue to shape the complex dynamics of the bilateral relationship.
In her brief, Jayantika Rao analyses the second leg of President Xi Jinping’s Southeast Asia visit, during which he travelled to Malaysia and Cambodia. Considering the potential disruption to global free trade on account ofUS tariffs, China capitalised on the opportunity to drum up support in Southeast Asia. While no major agreements were signed in Malaysia or Cambodia, President Xi bolstered China’s position in these countries by portraying itself as a strategic partner and trustworthy ally for the broader region.
To read this East Asia Explorer, Vol. III, Issue 4, please see the PDF attached.
In this issue, Dr. V. S. Seshadri analyses the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake that hit central Myanmar on March 28, 2025. He notes that international bodies, including the QUAD and ASEAN, pledged assistance and urged a ceasefire for safe delivery of humanitarian aid, with India leading the relief efforts through ‘Operation Brahma’. He further observes that because of the ongoing crisis, the Myanmar military has successfully regained control of Lashio from rebel forces under a ceasefire mediated by China, highlighting the increasing reliance of Myanmar on Beijing for support.
Dr. Pradeep Taneja examines Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam on April 14–15, 2025, which formed part of his broader Southeast Asian tour. He notes that Xi’s trip took place amid heightened trade tensions, following the Trump administration’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on both China and Vietnam. The visit served as a key platform for both countries to address trade issues, with leaders signing dozens of cooperation agreements to strengthen economic ties, particularly in areas such as supply chains, railway infrastructure, and green development. Despite this economic partnership, he points out there is an underlying mistrust between the countries due to ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea, which continue to shape the complex dynamics of the bilateral relationship.
In her brief, Jayantika Rao analyses the second leg of President Xi Jinping’s Southeast Asia visit, during which he travelled to Malaysia and Cambodia. Considering the potential disruption to global free trade on account ofUS tariffs, China capitalised on the opportunity to drum up support in Southeast Asia. While no major agreements were signed in Malaysia or Cambodia, President Xi bolstered China’s position in these countries by portraying itself as a strategic partner and trustworthy ally for the broader region.
To read this East Asia Explorer, Vol. III, Issue 4, please see the PDF attached.
