The recent shift in perceptions among Southeast Asian countries highlights a growing preference for China over the United States. According to a 2024 survey by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, for the first time, more respondents from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries prefer aligning with China rather than the U.S.

This shift reflects a broader trend of decreasing U.S. influence in the region, driven partly by dissatisfaction with U.S. foreign policies, especially regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. At least four countries identified the Israel-Hamas conflict as their primary geopolitical concern: 83% of respondents in Malaysia, 79% in Brunei, 75% in Indonesia, and 58% in Singapore chose this issue as their top priority. This concern was notably higher than the 40 percent of respondents who prioritized the more geographically proximate South China Sea dispute.

A significant majority of the survey respondents from in all three Muslim-majority countries in ASEAN — Malaysia (75%), Indonesia (73%), and Brunei (70%) — preferred aligning with China over the United States. This represents a sharp increase from 2023, when the percentages were 55% for Malaysia, 54% for Indonesia, and 55% for Brunei.

While the U.S. has made some gains, such as strengthening ties with the Philippines and upgrading its relationship with Vietnam, it has lost ground in several other Southeast Asian countries. The U.S.’s support for Israel and its perceived double standards in foreign policy have contributed to this decline in influence.

Referring to the survey, an article in the Foreign Affairs magazine suggests that the U.S. must enhance its economic engagement in the region, address concerns about its policies, and improve its strategic outreach to regain support in the region.