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After Joe Biden’s four years in office, South-east Asia emerges as a key winner

Asean countries pursued strategic diversification and maximised gains from US involvement and Chinese growth

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TOPSHOT - US President Joe Biden reacts to applause after he received a medal and spoke at a Department of Defense Commander in Chief Farewell Ceremony at Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, on January 16, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)

US President Joe Biden leaves office with a mixed legacy in South-east Asia, but his successor might not fare better.

PHOTO: AFP

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As US President Joe Biden hands over the keys to the White House to Donald Trump, observers say South-east Asia has emerged as a key winner over the past four years as US-China rivalry intensified.

The gains can be quantified, to some extent, in dollars and cents.

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