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Subcommittee hearing urges whole‑of‑government U.S. strategy to counter China in ASEAN
Summary
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee members and outside experts at a hearing said the United States must adopt a coordinated, whole‑of‑government approach—economic, security, diplomatic and law‑enforcement—to remain the partner of choice in Southeast Asia and blunt growing Chinese influence.
Chairwoman Kim opened a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on U.S. engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, urging a coordinated approach to counter China’s influence.
“This hearing presents an opportunity for us to examine China's growing footprint in ASEAN and to discuss ways The US can counter it by strengthening cooperation across economic, security, diplomatic, and law enforcement sectors,” Chairwoman Kim said in her opening statement.
The panel of outside experts told the subcommittee the United States retains advantages in trust and security cooperation but risks losing ground without a clearer, sustained strategy. “China seeks to control all activity, peacetime, and military in clear violation of international law,” said Gregory Poling, director and senior fellow, Southeast Asia program, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Center for Strategic and International Studies. “We have to be the preferred partner, not just the partner that one has to side with,” Dr. Lynn Kuok, Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asia Studies at the Brookings Institution, added.
Why it matters: ASEAN is a large and growing economic and strategic region. Witnesses and members cited public‑opinion polling and trade figures to argue that economic engagement, not only security ties, will determine long‑term influence. Chairwoman Kim and witnesses repeatedly recommended a “whole‑of‑government” posture that aligns diplomatic, development, defense and trade tools to offer ASEAN durable alternatives to Chinese offers.
Key points from the hearing: - Security cooperation remains a U.S. strength. Poling and others highlighted maritime capacity‑building with the Philippines and other partners as a concrete area where the U.S. has successfully pushed back against coercion. - Economic engagement is viewed as lagging. Panelists criticized past U.S. efforts such as the Trans‑Pacific Partnership withdrawal and described the Indo‑Pacific Economic Framework as politically useful but limited without market access. - Soft‑power and people‑to‑people ties matter. Dr. Kuok and others warned that pauses to student visas and exchange programs can erode long‑term influence. - Institutional and financing tools were emphasized: reauthorizing and funding the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Export‑Import Bank and USAID programs; negotiating targeted trade and critical‑minerals agreements; and pursuing digital trade rules that align ASEAN with U.S. practices rather than alternate models.
Witnesses urged that U.S. strategies be responsive to ASEAN priorities so that partnership is seen as reciprocal rather than transactional. “We need a bold whole of government strategy … that affirms our leadership, reinforces our alliances, and upholds the sovereignty and rules based order that underpins a free and open Indo Pacific,” Chairwoman Kim said.
The subcommittee accepted written statements for the record and reserved five days for members to submit additional questions; members said they expect follow‑up work on legislative and funding items discussed during the hearing.
