In the latest State of Southeast Asia Survey 2023, close to 60 per cent of Southeast Asians professed their main concern to be unemployment and economic recession. Their number one concern was closely followed by climate change, rising military tensions and widening socio-economic gaps. While China remains the economic power in Southeast Asia that is seen to wield the most economic and political-strategic influence, the survey found its ratings declined this year. At the same time, China is powerful, but not well-trusted. A majority in the region is worried about Chinese influence, both economic and political. As for the EU, on the other hand, the survey paints a somewhat reverse picture of a player that is well-liked and trusted, but has only very little economic or political-strategic influence. Potential areas of cooperation between the EU and ASEAN are plentiful however, and the survey shows not only that the EU is a desired partner for the region, but also that it has to offer much of what the region wants.

The full-length publication is only available in German.