Summary of One-on-One with George Yeo: Insights from Former Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister | IES 2025

In a recent one-on-one discussion, former Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo provided insights on the evolving geopolitical and economic landscape in Asia amid significant global shifts. He emphasized the unprecedented challenges faced by the U.S. and the changing dynamics of international relations, particularly with the rise of China, Russia, and India. Yeo highlighted that the traditional Western dominance in technology and trade is being contested, leading to a transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world.

Yeo discussed the implications of Donald Trump's presidency, noting his inward-focused policies and skepticism towards free trade, which he argued could lead to de-industrialization in the U.S. and economic hardship for the middle class. He pointed out that Trump's approach may hasten the transition to a multipolar world, as countries recalibrate their relationships with the U.S. and each other, particularly in Europe and Asia.

The conversation also touched on the technological rivalry between the U.S. and China, particularly in artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries. Yeo expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of U.S. containment strategies against China, given China's growing pool of scientists and engineers, and suggested that the U.S. may struggle to maintain its technological edge.

Yeo underscored the importance of ASEAN countries in navigating these challenges, advocating for a strategic approach that leverages China's economic growth while ensuring regional stability. He emphasized that ASEAN can play a critical role as a mediator and facilitator in the region, provided that its member states remain united and focused on shared goals.

He concluded by urging Southeast Asian nations, particularly Indonesia, to view China's rise as an opportunity for economic growth and to engage in strategic negotiations that benefit the region without compromising sovereignty.

Presenters/Contributors:

Notable Quotes

— 04:00 — « The global geopolitical and economic landscape is being reconfigured by a convergence of tectonic structural shifts of an unprecedented magnitude since 1945. »
— 10:32 — « If there's no peace, the conversation will be very different. »
— 11:28 — « The arrival of deep seek developed on the sh string by open source which means that everybody can now have access to AI will change the entire Marketplace. »
— 22:07 — « I see China as a once in a lifetime opportunity for us in Southeast Asia. »
— 33:43 — « We are not necessarily the fastest, sometimes we are a bit awkward, but we have preferred drivers because everyone knows we'll get them to the shared destination. »

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