Some Southeast Asians appear to have warmed to Trump. This could be based on the assessment that his policies might not harm the region as much.
One of the most striking findings of the latest State of Southeast Asia survey is that Southeast Asians have largely taken the actions of the new Trump administration in their stride, as measured by their preference for a Trump-led US over China and their assessment of their countries’ relations with the US.
It is not difficult to guess what Southeast Asia wants. It wants to maintain a balance of power between the major powers so that the region does not revert to spheres of influence of the past and so that it can continue to…