Source link : https://news7.asia/news/the-two-southeast-asias-unraveling-the-rising-divide-between-continental-and-maritime-nations/
A growing divide is reshaping Southeast Asia, splitting the region along continental and maritime lines. As geopolitical tensions intensify and economic paths diverge, countries on the mainland and those scattered across the archipelago are increasingly pursuing distinct strategies in diplomacy, security, and development. This emerging bifurcation raises critical questions about regional cohesion and the future of Southeast Asia’s collective identity amid shifting global power dynamics.
Emerging Economic and Security Fault Lines Between Continental and Maritime Southeast Asia
The economic trajectories of Southeast Asia’s continental and maritime countries are diverging, fueled by distinct development models and geopolitical alignments. Continental nations like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand are increasingly linked through land-based infrastructure projects driven by China’s Belt and Road Initiative, fostering connectivity but also deepening their dependency on Beijing. In contrast, maritime states such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore prioritize sea-lane security and international trade openness, leveraging their strategic locations along vital shipping routes in the South China Sea and beyond. This evolving economic landscape is characterized by contrasting priorities: while the continental bloc focuses on manufacturing hubs and overland trade corridors, maritime countries emphasize port development, digital economies, and…
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Author : Atticus Reed
Publish date : 2025-10-09 10:01:00
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