37th ASEAN Roundtable - Session I: Playing the Great Game

[@ongallianz]

Asean will have peace and better future as long as they work & co-operate with China

[@beastmode8203]

China and the US are going to go to war.

[@eymeeraosaka2954]

The question I ask is, will the US and Collective West allow ASEAN to grow stronger and play a more prominent positive role in world affairs? For the past 20 years, China's rise has been peaceful and yet they cannot accept?

[@beastmode8203]

Of course not, trying to take the place of the US will bring Armageddon.

[@kooisengchng5283]

US will not accept an ASEAN that is NOT friendly. ASEAN will not be allowed to chart an independent course and already US is interfering with some ASEAN countries in order to change its govt/policy. US is bent on being the only hegemonic power on earth. It is their policy. It will fight tooth and nail to maintain its position. Hence the world will never be at peace, because US does not know peace. The only peace it knows is the peace that is dictated by US.

[@kolviczd6885]

I always wonder why we Asians are so vulnerable to Western manipulation!! We are hard working and smart people and are aware of things happening around us.. but somehow we always fall into the trap of western divisive policy "Divide and Rule Policy". My observation on 'Asian vulnerable to western manipulation': - Besides the US/West divisive agencies working in Asia overtime, 24x7, 365 days a year.. we Asian ourselves, in general, still have the inferiority complex w.r.t. the west. This inferiority complex was inflicted to us during the colonization era by the colonial powers with brute force, looting and enslaving all at once. And we haven't fully recovered yet from the horror of colonization to this day. But today, we need to let go of the inferiority complex and start start acting with an independent mind to protect and promote ourselves. We need to wake up to reality today and push back all the divisive forces coming from the west (particularly from US) to Asia - to divide, destroy and belittle us again. Asia need to be united more than ever despite our differences, else the west/US will continue to use us against each other and dictate us for centuries more. It's a given that the west domination and dictation will happen if we don't unite and push back hard.

[@freelunchforchildren4040]

Generally speaking, Asians r Lapdogs of western power. e.g. Japanese, South Korean, Taiwanese . . .

[@ptwlk]

Utmost respect to Prof Kishore. He is Singapore's national treasure. May he have good health and happiness.

[@khenglchang6101]

Yes Kishore! No more apologies! ASEAN has earned the right to stand tall!!

[@markkukuivalainen4738]

Well said Mr Kishore, man of peace 👍

[@kstang9441]

Professor Kishore , a great speaker. I totally agree, Asean don't need to be too modest when facing the EU. We are better off in many aspects compared to the western countries. Mr. Kishore and Mr Lee kuan Yew, the courageous, down-to-earth speakers, i always admire. Great respect to Mr kishore.

[@choonhockong8215]

Salute to Professor Kishore Mahabuni. As a Singaporean I am proud we got the world best geopolitics speaker and renowned political analyst. World leaders should make him the UN Chief, can bring hope and peace to this troubled world.

[@japs4378]

​​@@choonhockong8215 Totally agree with you, Prof. MABUBANI is the most brilliant and clear speaking geopolitical specialist. From an island of the American continent were I stand, we can claim this inspiring speaker as a World Intellectual Treasure... Fully support this proposition to make Prof. K. M. the next UN Secretary General in these dangerous and troubled times the world is facing today and for the 10 - 15 years ahead!!!

[@beastmode8203]

@@japs4378 it will not be 10 or 15 years, all of this is going to come to an end in the next 5 years and it will be apocalyptic ☢️

[@台独的老父亲]

I am a Chinese who likes geopolitics. In my personal analysis, where China goes, there will be economic growth, and where the United States goes, there will be war. ASEAN is friendly to China, Asian economy will take off, Western hegemony will end, and a new era in Asia will begin. The 21st century will be the century of Asia. If ASEAN is friendly with the United States and other Western countries, the United States will inevitably provoke ASEAN China relations. To jointly encircle China and provoke military conflicts in the South China Sea. The military conflict in the South China Sea is not in the interests of countries in the region. Do you think my analysis is correct?

[@navegantezen5983]

Totally correct!

[@xueue02]

ASEAN use the momentum of iraq war to leave US radar..starting the year of 2000s after ASEAN crisis monetary (the US betrayal) without any drums, almost all of the ASEAN countries march slowly towards China and start working with China to build the countries. After 2 decades of US being busy and entangle in West and central Asia, you can see lots of development in ASEAN and ASEAN governments know..that is why you see even Philippine who kept refusing to work with China, have the slowest development in the country (been there in 2018-2020 and I felt so sorry how actually their capital city is way behind than the other ASEAN countries) is going to China eventually. And as ASEAN citizens, I believe our governments will not throw this progress away.. Yes! Starting conflict in South China Sea is not in both ASEAN and China's interest. Even if there was disputes, governments in the region (including my country) actually discuss everything behind the closed door with China and resolve it only within 1-2 days. Media is the one that try to provoke and portrait that the disputes are like mjor conflicts. What I'm afraid is not the government to be honest, but the people! People who don't understand geopolitics consume the media and we the people may be the trojan. Governments in ASEAN have lots things to do to reprogram the people.

[@sawashakiletomania8955]

Sorry mate but it's the West Philippine Sea. The amount of area that your government claim is absurd. We are not the problems here. I agree with your point about China and the US.

[@michaelteng6076]

You are spot on

[@warickjames4417]

I think your analysis is 100% correct. China will lead the world with integrity and earn great respect, things the US is incapable of.

[@valuedent6485]

How I wish.... The leaders of my country ... My countrymen "open their minds and eyes" and see what's really happening in geo-politics!! How I wish leaders of my country can view the world, especially towards the west through the eyes, mind of Prof. Mahbubani!! Kishore.... A treasure for ASEAN!!

[@aetnat0k1y0]

Top notch presentation by Prof. Kishore. The world needs more intellects like him.

[@andyroa3696]

i didnt remember when china ask any country to choose side

[@AnnaAnna-dz2kt]

ASEAN have to unite. .

[@victorkmlee]

Prof. Kishore speaks well and clearly. On the issue of choosing sides, it is really one country that is aggressively pushing or pressuing countries to choose sides. A sentiment reflecting "if you are not with us, you are against us". They weaponize their currency, seize assets and sanction countries as reprisals. When a country declares herself an 'exceptional indispensable nation on the hill (beyond reproach) and it must not allow others to surpass her', it tells you a mindset that promotes a win lose or I win much more situation at others' expense. You are not allowed to be great or exceptional in basically anything including finance, economy, science, technology etc. To sacrifice the self interest of your cuontry means you are condemning your posterity to a form of servitidue or inferiority. How dare a nation of yellow, brown or dark skins can be allowed surpass to us?

[@pw403]

Prof Kishore is a wise man. He has a wide vision about international affairs

[@frankyapp4982]

Why the US decided to treat China as a rival and not a competitor ? And with this on going vicious geopolitical rivalry between the two super economies , what kind of changing global order the world would likely to face ? In particular how would this geopolitical game between US and China affect ASEAN ?

[@yananneteoh9818]

ASEAN is beating about the bush

[@catrojana3694]

China is getting very strong now, as is, China will kick Murrica's ass all the way to the other side of the Pacific. The windows to attack China had been closed so no way they're going to attack China by rationale but the current Murrica's is not rational at all. All fair in love and war but China are ready and armed to the teeth and they controlled the first island chains.

[@wisuwatbhosri9971]

Mafia treats other businesses as rival. Mafia cannot coexist with other businesses that undercut their revenue. Win-Win corporation is alien concept for mafia.

[@boblim5530]

USA is a coward,dare not fight China but have to gang up with other countries to contain China. Same thing in Ukraine USA needed a gang of EU plus Ukraine to fight Russia. Russia is alone. Imagine a pack of wolves attacking a single bear.

[@narendanazimodickpariahind8935]

What are those yankees doing in asean When they dont even take care of their own fellows who share the same continent But have been conducting coups n installing dictator puppets who have to obey them regardless China n asean....peace progress prosperity Usa n latin america... coups n usa's puppet dictators (Haiti is being invaded by the evil usa regime Why so quiet Damn bas*tard son of a b*itch usa n its satanic beliefs n ideology)

[@chankane]

I seem to understand how the US is forcing ASEAN and Africa to choose sides but how is China forcing to choose sides?

[@yananneteoh9818]

No, China is always guided by a high Standard of moral integrity and executed her ambassadorial services in all areas of services assiduously the tradition of the diplomatic code.

[@sherashera7791]

kishore just have to make sure he doesn't piss the yankee off, he is 100 percent pro yankee

[@narendanazimodickpariahind8935]

This in dian should go back to lecture his fellows in india

[@beastmode8203]

@@sherashera7791 dude we are lethal, to piss off to that extent the world will end ☢️

[@sherashera7791]

@@beastmode8203 Yankees are totally pissed now cause nations are starting to tell them off, let's see if they got the balls to reset the world, send one to Russia n see what happens

[@helynn731]

Inclusive instead of exclusive, being tolerable of our differences, we are different but we could work together

[@cheemengsiew288]

Awesome panel

[@flyrodmike]

Mahbubani just got done saying ASEAN members should stop being so apologetic and then the next speaker starts off by apologizing repeatedly. Thanks for demonstrating exactly what Mahbubani was complaining about. The west does not respect your humility, which it regards as weakness and submissiveness. The west will never respect ANYONE that it thinks it can bully and Asians who think they are appreciated by the west for their humility and good manners are extremely mistaken.

[@stephenyang2844]

China leads in Asia's rise in prosperity and influence. I'm more optimistic that China can navigate it's peaceful rise managed by wise leader Xi and the CCP. Evidence is emerging as the Belt and Road projects bear fruits of rising economies along them.

[@beastmode8203]

Yeah keep believing that lie.

[@cinpeace353]

Well said, but when US consider trading activities, economic cooperations with China as choose side, what can you do? Have to let US know you will stand up to US interference, that's not choose side, that's about growth and development. Worry about miss fire in South China Sea? Let US know their military is not welcome in the area. You don't have to choose side, but you have to stop the bully.

[@albertwong1919]

ASEAN as collective consensus base system is really toothless with a lack strong leadership and vision to steer it forward! I like to ask all these experts where will ASEAN be if every country in ASEAN is divided internally and than regionally by NGOs to simply tear ASEAN apart! Now this would not happen primarily because ASEAN is toothless, this consensus base need all members to agree before a decision can be made! How than can ASEAN be assertive? Let's look at how the EU responded to Russian's SMO! U have a non-elected leader of EU making decision and statements on how EU should support Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. The EU even threaten its own members to fall in line or but cutoff financially from the EU! Clearly there is leadership from the EU and being assertive and decisive! I wont want to debate whether this is good or bad! There are clearly benefits for both the systems and organizations of EU and ASEAN, but to just focus on the bad whilst ignoring the good doesnt really make a point imho. The question should be does ASEAN need to evolve into a tighter organization whilst retaining its structure and collective consensus base system and is there a better system that allows better and faster decision making process that is farsighted and base on a plan system rather than an ad hoc system that only reacts to problems and issues and not proactive. An example will be ASEAN should all vote now and put a binding statement that all ASEAN members will not allow military bases in their region! This alone will ensure that no amount of pressure can be applied by any superpowers and future superpowers eg. India, China, etc...

[@eightssix]

Great example!

[@Whatis2468]

Hahaha..... you need to have a better understanding of Asean. After the Apec meeting, will see how Asean going to shape in the near future.

[@gsimon6407]

Ya, agree. firstly kick out US base in Changi.

[@Whatis2468]

Doesn't mean that an organisation keep silent means they are not doing anything or toothless as in some comments. Excellent analysis! Thank you.

[@kwask6062]

👍Yes not toothless

[@user-vp1vl6yp9t]

@@kwask6062 Really? Not toothless, do you know how to use teeth? Are you good at using the teeth? Please make a list of wars you have won and lost. Do toothed sheep eat wolves? As far as humans are concerned, are the teeth less than F35s and nuclear submarines any good for you? The scary truth is that any tooth, if not the sharpest, will only kill you faster. FYI, South Vietnam has US weapons. For example, the South Vietnamese navy was far more advanced than the Chinese.

[@eliyeas5327]

Thanks to ASEAN community❤

[@williewongka379]

But Singapore already chosen US.

[@cheemengsiew288]

Very true bending by spore

[@peteryau9712]

How so? You must have missed many of the meetings PM Lee had with the US governing politicians n his emphasis that SG would not choose sides

[@fuckkatuas2837]

@@peteryau9712 Singapore has a US army base that it cannot get rid of. So it is in the US side.

[@gohsiewhau4819]

Our government officials n our MSM copied from western MSM n printed🤔🧐

[@tweedy4sg]

@@peteryau9712 Just look at the manner our gov't control media (ST, CNA, etc.) reports on China is not big enough a hint ??? 😏

[@cam35mm]

Choong is either naive, a stooge, or a patsy,

[@kshen7485]

Once your economy is strong, you can speak out loudly and play the great role geopolitically, no matter to USA or China.

[@MrStevemur]

The final speaker could’ve made his points more clearly, but I believe he was right to emphasize military power. Ultimately, how can ASEAN have agency without that, painful as it is to say?

[@qinfugu2816]

ASEAN should be smart enough！

[@joylove8693]

I am here to see professor Kishore only.

[@jonhone1]

The US is getting so addicted to trouble making so much. 😮

[@henryyip1]

Kindly think seriously of OUR ASEAN SUPER CLUB PREMIER LEAGUE I have been talking about this for the last 40 years

[@michaelmurphy4000]

The common denominatio to all problems is truth

[@beastmode8203]

The truth is the United States and China are going to go to war and it is going to go nuclear and end the world.

[@BL-db6xt]

Did the Secretary General of Vietnamese Governing Party Nguyen Phu Trong recently visited China & signed off a dozen of trade & diplomatic deals between 2 Nations speak loud & clear to the selective West ? Stop Pushing. Pls Uncle Senile Pls. The difference of ASEAN & EU is: The UK & French Navies faced off ea other over the fishing water near Jersey Island in May 2021. However, in the SCS, or the East Sea as the Vietnamese call it, such fishing water disputes were handled by the Chinese & Vietnamese Coast Guards.

[@TheAlbert18361]

Prof, when u are where are other asean member states when only Singapore declared she will not choose side, where is Singapore when the current German Chancellor is under verbal abuse for visiting China?

[@who52au]

Kishore is the only one knows the depth of the problem currently .. the other two just a street talking ..

[@JT-cm9di]

Any decent people will not stand together with bully, forcing us to choose meaning forcing us to oppose you.

[@lttan2867]

The world will be forever peaceful only if there's NO LIVING THINGS LEFT ON THE PLANET.

[@miguellines5907]

Russia invation on Ukraine is wrong and break the UN Charters but Does the shelling by Ukraine on Donbass populations daily is wrong and break the UN Charters, Prof Kishore??????

[@michaeltse321]

Quad is not a milliary alliance but a militry co-operation. What is the difference? Millitary alliance is a signed alliance but apart from that there is no difference - lol

[@lealyan]

👍

[@EscudoPadraoPrata]

From the point of view of south-east Asia, Russia is a far away partner. But it is not. Most of Russia is Asia, part of it muslim and buddhist even, and Russia just cut Europe into 2 parts, now we have a real Eurasia. Russia will play a major role into the further development of China, into increasing the pace India will become a major player, into bringing Vietnam and India to ease tensions with China, and perhaps and much for sure to ease the conflict in Pakistan and India and bringing stability Afghanistan. Russia means also food security, a problem China and India will be facing, as their peoples increase the quality of life Russia will become not just a wheat powerhouse it is becoming a meat exporting producer. The US and the EU are becoming major destabilisers in the world institutions. Regional institutions are gaining importance as a result of it. ASEAN, Shanghai Security Organisation, Eurasia Customs Union, Turkic States Organisation and so many others.

[@hubreydavid7864]

Unfortunately all Empires only have a limited time to rule history have proved that over and over again, so a new power will emerge in the next New World order .Peace to the Human Race.

[@bangthingneng9433]

For a more strategic outcomes particularly for future existence or endeavour or survival in a broader Indo-pacific regions rather then a just reference point & slowly and mutedly transition into a power that succumbing to the needs of others ( super power) on which Asians are sitting on the fence right now for not showing themselves tilting to whichever side/directions which I felt will not sustain for long as strategic forces would one day entails them forcibly tilting to one side as when policies of powerful lord working unrelentlessly towards dictating the world's order and ironically no counter forces strategically and effectively so far in working towards formation of an organisations that these countries would be able to lean on or rely on for the years to come. Sadly, no such formations thus far would gives confident that fence sitters would be free from futures encumbrances. The aggressiveness of powerful country in this case with more hostile policies in enhancing their ruling capacities will thus overcomming/submerging the non seemingly challenging forces with far lesser tools to be able to imbibe into their mind that being a fence sisters is good enough. Times will come that they'll have to show their sides only if the counter forces are dysfunctional/lacklustre/non energetic, etc, etc. That is the reason I have said Relying on single or handfuls strategy may not be sufficient as the perpetrators or opponents or rulling class may possessed streams of strategies or formula. That is the reasons, you may need multiple strategies to fence ourselves to be able to sustain in our economic survival. Example - having only SCO, BRICS may not be sufficient. You may need Asean Sub-Brics and also Latin Sub-Brics, etc etc. Or you may need to have establish a main reserved currency and obsolutely a must. Otherwise , how are you going to standardise the valuations for the whole world. Fence ourselves are our survival. Bbc - Bang broadcast corp

[@kshen7485]

ASEAN is much stronger and effective. EU is good idea, but no independency is its fatal weak point. It is reason why Ukraine War happened.

[@leebarry5686]

Without giving right to Rohingyas and arranging them back to Myanmar with citizenship, nothing can prove ASEAN is independent and has the ability to going between to powers!

[@cam35mm]

EU and the Anglo west paradigm must end. they have brought 500 years of grief, and destruction. Disagree about nations around the world wanting to work with the US, it's more that they want to work with some of the companies in the US.

[@beastmode8203]

The US is the most powerful and greatest empire nation in the history of mankind without question. Their foreign policy is disgusting but what the United States did and contributed to the world otherwise has never been done before and will most likely never be done again.

[@greatasia606]

It's unfortunate that Mr Kishore has not been able to understand China deep enough. One can't talk about Asia and ASEAN without having studied China. More than 2000 years ago, before the birth of Jesus Christ, the Chinese government had a Salt and Iron discourse. The government wanted to take back the control of the Salt and Iron industries from the private capitals. It was to ensure the people have access to these crucial resources. So, Why Putin had to take back the control of oil & gas industries from the oligarchs? Why Ukraine has failed? Why the deep state has been so powerful in the USA? Why PAP government has become the servant of property and banking tycoons? Why Chinese communist dealt with Jack Ma and the like? Why China has become so powerful so fast? Why Vietnam is leaning closer to China? Why ASEAN is leaning closer to China? Why the world needs China now? Ha ha ha!

[@two_sillys_trap]

ASEAN can help the US/West and China understand each other better. Because ASEAN has been influenced by the cultures and languages of both great powers/blocs thru out its long history.

[@mauroaurelio6534]

Prof Kishore - go and live in Donbass...or maybe have a holiday in Zaporozhniya for a couple of months - opening speech showed unbelieveable ignorance...I had to switch off. Very disappointed.

[@HiddenAgendas]

agreed. he is a sock puppet

[@titaniumskunkogkush4365]

Asia has it's own problems. They know that they can't fix the problems of others. You think they have time to think about Ukraine? Do you know what is happening in Asia?

[@user-vp1vl6yp9t]

Really? Not toothless, do you know how to use teeth? Are you good at using the teeth? Please make a list of wars you have won and lost. Do toothed sheep eat wolves? As far as humans are concerned, are the teeth less than F35s and nuclear submarines any good for you? The scary truth is that any tooth, if not the sharpest, will only kill you faster. FYI, South Vietnam has US weapons. For example, the South Vietnamese navy was far more advanced than the Chinese.

[@fooksengloke3625]

Really?