Jonathan Stromseth interviewed about Kamala Harris’ ASEAN engagement

Professor of the Practice Jonathan Stromseth shared his thoughts with the South China Morning Post on whether Kamala Harris’ diplomatic experience in Southeast Asia would shape her presidency.

In the Aug. 20 article “From Singapore to Palawan: how Kamala Harris’ Asean engagement could shape her presidency,” Stromseth said Harris’ “deep immersion in Southeast Asian affairs as vice president has equipped her with invaluable insights on the region's geopolitical flashpoints, from China's maritime ambitions to climate challenges in the Mekong subregion.”

Stromseth also said Harris’ previous diplomatic visits to Singapore and Vietnam "will acquit her well in the foreign policy sphere if she ascends to the presidency in 2025, having already become familiar with a region that sits at the epicentre of the US-China rivalry."

Before joining Duke in January 2024, Stromseth worked at The Brookings Institution as a senior fellow and the Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asian Studies. He is the co-author of “China’s Governance Puzzle: Enabling Transparency and Participation in a Single-Party State” and editor of “Rivalry and Response: Assessing Great Power Dynamics in Southeast Asia.” His publications include a multi-volume series on U.S.-Vietnam relations, as well as articles and reports on policymaking in Vietnam, geopolitical trends in Southeast Asia, Chinese foreign policy, and foreign aid cooperation in Asia. His current research focuses on U.S. Asia policy in the context of escalating U.S.-China rivalry, particularly in Southeast Asia.