What the US Really Wants from Southeast Asia

The US attempts once again to “pivot” to Asia – and Southeast Asia in particular – but talk of “engaging” with the region is a smokescreen for yet another push to either co-opt and turn the region against China or divide and destroy the region to spite China.

Focus on nations like Laos and Cambodia – already reaping the benefits of moving out from under the shadow of generations of Western imperialism – are targets of Washington for being pulled back in and subjugated.

References:

Foreign Policy – Time for America to Play Offense in China’s Backyard:
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/01/12/…

Bangkok Post – Focus on Laos-China rail amid fruit export hopes:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/…

Bangkok Post – High-speed rail blues:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/o…

Bloomberg – Thailand needs hyperloop, not China-built high-speed rail: Thanathorn:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/…

The Phnom Penh Post – Sokha video producer closes Phnom Penh office in fear:
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/nationa…

NYT – Who Really Brought Down Milosevic?:
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/26/ma…

VOA – Cambodia’s Grassroots Opposition Activists Wait for ‘Right Time’ to Re-emerge:
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/cambodi…

Harvard University’s Atlas of Economic Complexity – Cambodia Exports by Partner 2019:
https://atlas.cid.harvard.edu/explore…