After the end of the Cold War, it seemed as if Southeast Asia would remain a geopolitically stable region within the American-led order for the foreseeable future.
In assessing the likelihood of a regional power transition, Shambaugh examines how ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and its member states maneuver and the degree to which they align with one or the other power..
For its part, China has more diplomatic influence, much greater trade, and geographic proximity.
The United States continues to possess a depth and breadth of security ties, soft power, and direct investment across the region that empirically outweigh China\'s.
Presently, both Powers bring important assets to bear in their competition.
Just as importantly, to the extent that there is a global power transition occurring from the US to China, the fate of Southeast Asia will be a good indicator.
The United States and China constantly vie for position and influence across this enormously significant area--and the outcome of this contest will do much to determine whether Asia leaves the American orbit after seven decades and falls into a new Chinese sphere of influence.
In this book, Shambaugh focuses on the critical sub-region of Southeast Asia.
While this competition ranges across the entire world, it is centered in Asia.
As the eminent China scholar David Shambaugh explains in Where Great Powers Meet , the United States and China are engaged in a broad-gauged and global competition for power.
In the last two decades, however, the re-emergence of China as a major Great power has called into question the geopolitical future of the region and raised the specter of renewed Great power competition.
After the end of the Cold War, it seemed as if Southeast Asia would remain a geopolitically stable region within the American-led order for the foreseeable future
