Singaporean scholar Muhammad Faizal says Washington is increasingly blurring the line between economics and security, using economic tools to advance its strategic interests in the region.
"For many years, the U.S. has focused mainly on security cooperation, believing it to be the foundation of its relations with ASEAN countries," Faizal said in a recent interview with South. "But ASEAN nations have long told the United States that to build strong, comprehensive ties, it must also engage economically. That is where China actually has an advantage over the U.S."
He noted that today, Washington's economic strategy is closely tied to its security policy. "The reason the Americans are weaponizing economic instruments is that they want to gain an advantage from the security dimension," he said.
Faizal also highlighted a broader global shift, with military power increasingly becoming a first-choice foreign policy tool. "That's why defense diplomats now play a crucial role," he said. "It's not enough for foreign ministry diplomats alone to engage—those managing military power must also communicate with each other to prevent misunderstandings and maintain trust, because no one wants a war."
He added that ASEAN faces the ongoing challenge of balancing relations among major powers. "We want to be friends with all the big powers because it's in our interest," Faizal said. "But it may not be in their interest for us to do so. Our challenge is to convince them that we are neutral and that our decisions, though driven by our national interests, are not meant to favor one side over another."
According to Faizal, one key objective of U.S. economic policy—particularly through tariffs—is to weaken economic links between ASEAN and China. "This is something ASEAN countries will not accept," he said. "We are China's close neighbor; there's no alternative but to do business with China. Each ASEAN country is exploring its own approach, but the greater challenge is how to forge a coherent regional strategy."
Reporter | Wang Hang, Liu Jialun
Video editor | Lu Xiao
Video script | Wang Hang, Liu Xiaodi
Text | Wang Hang, Liu Xiaodi
Editor | Yao Yijiang, Yuan Zixiang, Ou Xiaoming, James Campion, Shen He
