South-East Asia poll shows China beats US as top economic power

SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): China is seen as the most influential economic power in South-East Asia, according to the new poll, although there’s caution over Beijing’s territorial positions over the South China Sea.

A survey of 1,677 South-East Asians by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute showed 76.7% regard China as the most influential economic power in the region, followed by the US at a very distant 9.8%. Washington trailing in second place comes after the Biden administration finally unveiled its strategy to engage with Asia last week.