China, the US, and Southeast Asia’s next move: Roland Berger
Southeast Asia has long thrived as a crossroads of global trade, but as US-China tensions reshape the world order, the region has to be more than a conduit between the two superpowers. That was the overarching theme at global strategy and consulting firm Roland Berger’s recent media roundtable in Singapore, where leading experts tackled the shifting tides of geopolitics, innovation, and energy transition.
Sharing insights about new business norms for the region, Roland Berger was represented by Denis Depoux, global managing director and head of Asia; Damien Dujacquier, managing partner for Southeast Asia and TMT lead; and Dieter Billen, partner and lead for energy & sustainability in Southeast Asia.
Depoux observed that the strategic rivalry between the US and China is no longer just about tariffs or technology bans—it is now a full-scale economic and ideological divide. In this new reality, Southeast Asia can emerge as a key battleground while also serving as a balancing force.
Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia are stepping up as “connector nations,” absorbing redirected investments and fortifying supply chains. Malaysia, in particular, is carving out a dominant role in semiconductors, an industry in the centre of global power plays.
While ASEAN has built its reputation on manufacturing prowess and competitive labour costs, Dujacquier argues that cost advantages alone won’t sustain the region’s momentum. Instead of trying to make things cheaper, businesses here ought to think about how they can innovate faster, he said.
Using Singapore as an example, Dujacquier believes that the country’s knack for adopting new innovations is something that should be scaled across ASEAN. In doing so, the region can collectively foster risk-taking, streamline regulations, and support strategic sectors like semiconductors and biofuels.
Elsewhere, the energy sector holds new potential for Southeast Asia. Despite political uncertainties in the West, Southeast Asia’s energy transition is moving forward.
Billen explained that the region is exploring all options to secure its energy future from renewables to biofuels and even nuclear. Malaysia and Indonesia’s access to bio-resources and critical minerals makes these countries a natural hub for clean energy innovation, positioning them to benefit from global shifts in sustainability investments.
If one takeaway stood out from the roundtable, it was that Southeast Asia‘s ability to stay agile, innovate, and forge strategic alliances will define its standing in the new world order. In a world that’s rapidly rewriting the rules, that might just be the region’s greatest strength.
