Regional Outlook Forum 2023: Keynote Address by Mr George Yeo

The 26th edition of Regional Outlook Forum (ROF), ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute’s annual flagship event took place on 10 January 2023. Organised as a hybrid event for the first time, the in-person event was held at the Island Ballroom of Shangri-La Singapore.

ROF2023 was themed “Understanding The Drivers Of Change In A Disrupted World” to explore the forces that are driving the global tectonic shifts in world affairs and to discuss their implications for Southeast Asia. The far-reaching impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on global health, trade, finance and politics is still running its course, even as the fresh shocks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on global energy and food security are exacerbating the economic and financial stress on many debt-laden countries across the globe. The one-day forum included a keynote address and five panel discussions.

Mr George Yeo delivered the Keynote Address "In The Transition To A Multipolar World, Asean’s Weakness Is A Strength". Prof Chan Heng Chee, Chairman of ISEAS Board of Trustees moderated the session.

[martinchan]

Students of SE Asian history shall understand & appreciate the pre Western Colonisation ties during that old era

[jeremyt]

What a brilliant speech. The breadth and depth of his knowledge is unreal.

[yuanhaochue]

George has given a fantastic preempt of the Rise of ASEAN
.ASEAN itself is already a multipolar value circle coupled with the unavoidable value chains of a Rejuvenating China ( unstoppable) n Indus being two great civilization states that lived in harmony for thousand of years until the onslaught of nation buildings manifested by imperialistic colonization n racial supremacism by White Evangelical Culture to dominate ..

Overall the Asian Century is inevitable because of the diversity n culture of harmony among races.. ( cultural superiority exist but not in the dictate to conquer n dominate by aggression by the pirates culture of the West....

ASEAN itself will be smart n pragmatic enough to aim for long term sustainability instead of the zero sum game playbook still evident by Western Collectives dictate while having the Few Asian Pariahs icon of Japan n Korea ..possibly Vietnam n Philippines...

The way forward， ASEAN must maintain its balanced n non align geopolitical policy but use economic imperatives as the priority..

[zhuangxixing]

George Yeo knows many things about the relative distance between strength & weakness of a leadership.

[damiansiniakowicz]

George Yeo has valuable knowledge and experience.

[kaimingraymondchoi]

In response to Chan's question who can take leadership to develop multi-polarity, I would have thought no one in South East Asia has that capability. But ASEAN itself is the ideal institution to take the lead.

[mistman]

Thank you Mr Yeo for being generous with your time.

[cinpeace]

As long as the world as a whole and could reach common prosperity, it doesn't really matter which country is the leader. It is like which country is the leader of ASEAN? When countries are working together, the leading one is just like an acting chairman of a meeting. Rules and decisions are making together.

[aseprohmandar]

Peluang Menjadi Kutub Baru Global, Harus Mempunyai kutub-kutub kolaborasi Yang Terintegrasi Dengan Multipolar Goal !

[TimePeace]

If Asean can't even get a singable tune or assemble an Asean committee to modify one, how can it aspire to have an identity or to overcome contentious issues? It's time to get that started. Apart from songs and sports, there must be many more creative things that can be done to forge an Asean spirit. Ground up is as important as top down.

[hinosusanto]

Nobody could predict the economic impacts arising from covid-19 in late 2019. Seemed Asean lost over 300bil due to effects of pandermic

[fpm]

If someone told me the real George Yeo was kidnapped 5 years ago and that this man is a China spy imposter, I would not be entirely shocked 😂

[edwardlumsianming]

one mountain (Earth) cannot have two tigers (US and CHINA) but just one, the other one must submit.

[leebarry]

Please address the Myanmar massacre of Rohingyas, without dealing with this issue it’s meaningless to talk about any other things