Southeast Asia: an update

The political and economic profile of Southeast Asia as a region continues to rise. The UK is scaling up its engagement with the region. This briefing updates aspects of our December 2011 research papers on the region, Southeast Asia: A political and economic introduction (RP 11/78) and Military balance in Southeast Asia (RP 11/79). It looks in some depth at significant developments over the past year or so in the UK’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its ten member states. But it is not comprehensive – for example, it does not give extensive attention to developments in the South China Sea territorial dispute since the beginning of 2012. The briefing will not be periodically updated except by specific request.