A survey conducted by Singapore’s ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, released earlier this month, found that Japan remains the most trusted major power in the region.
Trust in Japan increased from 58.9 per cent last year to 66.8 per cent this year, according to the seventh State of Southeast Asia survey.
The annual report examines the views of regional opinion makers and thought leaders on geopolitical developments and issues affecting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
The survey, conducted over six weeks from January to February, straddling US President Donald Trump’s second term inauguration on January 20, gathered responses from around 2,000 individuals from the 10 Asean member states and East Timor, which is in the process of joining the regional grouping.
Tomoo Kikuchi, a professor at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University, said trust in Japan had increased due to the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, Israel’s actions in Gaza and the tariff showdown between China and the US.
