Southeast Asia's strategic location, deep economic ties with both the United States and China, and its involvement in critical regional disputes like the South China Sea present the region with both daunting challenges and significant opportunities. As the U.S.-China rivalry intensifies, Southeast Asia finds itself at a pivotal crossroads, poised to either be swept up in the power struggle or to strategically navigate its way to becoming a key player on the global stage.

Fostering Global Perspectives at Taylor’s University

These insights were at the heart of a thought-provoking lecture by Kishore Mahbubani, a globally renowned author, public intellectual, and former diplomat, at the inaugural Taylor’s Distinguished Public Lecture series. Held at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, the event drew over 150 attendees, in person and online, including prominent members of the diplomatic community, academics, students, and the general public. Among the dignitaries attending the event where His Excellency Vanu Gopala Menon, High Commissioner of Singapore to Malaysia; His Excellency Mr. Peter Van Acker, Ambassador of Belgium to Malaysia; His Excellency Morten Paulsen, Norwegian Ambassador to Malaysia, His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Khorshed Alam Khastagir, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia; Mr Timo GOOSMANN, Minister Counsellor, Head of Political Affairs, Press and Information for the EU Delegation to Malaysia; Ms. Rehana Parvin, First Secretary (Political), Bangladesh High Commission to Malaysia; and Justice Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin, Federal Court Justice.

This new lecture series aligns with the institution’s vision of fostering transformative conversations that bridge global perspectives with local challenges. By engaging with global thought leaders and experts, Taylor’s aims to inspire purposeful learning, drive innovation, and contribute to the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of society.

Sharing his aspirations for this public lecture series, Professor Ong Kian Ming, Pro Vice Chancellor of External Engagement at Taylor’s University said, “Our hope is that through such public lectures, Taylor’s can facilitate more public discourse on the major challenges facing our world today – geopolitics, climate change, digitalisation, the changing nature of work and active aging. These challenges are reflected in the main academic themes which are the focus areas of this university, namely - Health and Active Living, Education and Future Work, Sustainably Societies, and Creative Futures.”

ASEAN’s Role in a Multi-Polar World

In Mahbubani’s 30-minute keynote, titled “US-China Tensions – Can Southeast Asia Emerge as Winners?”, he explored the evolving geopolitical landscape, offering a nuanced perspective on how Southeast Asia might navigate the complex dynamics between these two global superpowers.

“ASEAN is uniquely positioned to thrive in this multi-civilisational, multi-polar, and multilateral world. Its diversity makes it a model for managing global challenges, and Southeast Asia can be an important bridge builder between in speaking to the United States and China,” Mahbubani remarked, underscoring the region's potential to leverage its strategic importance for long-term success.

The keynote was followed by a dynamic panel discussion that combined economic insights with academic rigour, offering a comprehensive view of Southeast Asia's potential pathways amid the geopolitical tensions. The panel featured Angeline Tan, Analyst, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia; Professor Dr Anindita Dasgupta, Head of the School of Liberal Arts at Taylor's University; and was moderated by Dr Andrea Passeri, Programme Director of the Bachelor of Social Science (International Relations) at Taylor's University.

Key highlights from the panel included Tan’s analysis of the economic ramifications for Southeast Asia should the region successfully navigate these tensions, and Dasgupta’s emphasis on the critical need for regional unity and sustained diplomatic dialogue.