Asia is finally cool in the eyes of those who matter
coined the term 'soft power' , often warned that US President Donald Trump's actions were harming America's reputation abroad. Meanwhile, perceptions of China and other Asian countries are on the rise. Could this indicate a shift towards the fabled '
Asian century '?
More than a third of people in Southeast Asia were born since the beginning of the 21st century, amounting to more than 250 million people. As a result, none of them personally experienced the 1997 Asian financial crisis. A small minority encountered the September 11 attacks and the subsequent 'war on terror', while only a few can recall the 2008 global financial crisis.
However, most of them have been directly affected by
the Covid-19 pandemic . Some have now entered the workforce and can afford to travel abroad. Many Southeast Asians consume a diverse range of foreign content and products online and offline.
What does the world look like to them? Geopolitics is back and globalisation is no longer taken for granted. Meanwhile, regionalism might be stronger than ever, especially given Trump's
'America first' doctrine
China is leading the way in shaping socioeconomic and political developments across Southeast Asia and beyond. Part of the reason for this is its
Belt and Road Initiative , which has been instrumental in expanding its influence across different domains. This initiative encompasses physical and digital infrastructure, including roads, trains, bridges and the technological foundations for future connectivity
such as 6G and beyond, which will power smart cities.
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