The post-crisis geoeconomic trend threatens to create a division between Asia and the United States as Asian economies led by China continue to grow strong while the U.S. becomes more domestically focused, said Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
But to avoid a China-centric world landscape and pursue a more balanced regional development, Asia needs continued engagement of the U.S., and Japan has a key role to play to keep America involved in the region, Tay said at a recent seminar in Tokyo.
Tay was speaking at a seminar organized by the Keizai Koho Center on Aug. 3. Masashi Nishihara, president of the Research Institute for Peace and Security, served as commentator at the event.