However, despite the preference, a deterioration of trust towards China was observed with over half of the Myanmar respondents indicating distrust of China’s contributions to global peace, security, prosperity and governance, an increase from last year’s 37.6pc.

Against the backdrop, the proportion of distrust of China among Southeast Asian countries increased to over 60pc of respondents from roughly 50pc in the State of Southeast Asia survey by the ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

With 1308 of the respondents being experts in various sectors, the survey showed ASEAN continues to see American influence waning as 76pc described the level of engagement by the US as decreased or significantly decreased.

On the other hand, 80pc of respondents indicated China as the most influential economic influence in the region and over half saw China also as powerful in strategy and politics.  

While the majority of ASEAN countries see China as a “revisionist power” intending to bring the region under its sphere of influence, most of the Myanmar respondents, 38.5pc, saw China gradually replacing the US as a regional leader, and a quarter sided with the majority view in the region.

Despite this, a higher number of respondents, from 62 to 73pc, are wary about the region becoming an arena for a struggle between major powers, and that members of ASEAN could potentially become proxies of such a struggle.

Notably, the development of 5G technology was seen as a stage for major-power competition.

“Given its security ramifications, the awarding of the 5G contracts can be seen as a vote of confidence and trust in the country,” the survey report said.

Though the ASEAN as a whole and Myanmar’s respondents both prefer South Korea’s Samsung to build 5G infrastructure with the most confidence, Myanmar’s two largest telcos have announced partnerships with Chinese companies, with Ooreedo pairing up with ZTE, and Mytel with Huawei.

The survey this year also saw the rise of doubts towards the ASEAN framework. Roughly 75pc of respondents, a two percent increase, could not feel the tangible benefits brought by the regional inter-governmental organisation.

“The fact that nearly three in four respondents do not feel tangible benefits of ASEAN after 52 years of community building calls for deep introspection by ASEAN and its member states,” said the report.

On the Rakhine crisis, member states of ASEAN demonstrated divided opinions with over 55pc of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with ASEAN’s handling of the crisis in Myanmar.

The biggest disapproval came from Singapore, the Philippines and Muslim-majority Malaysia, while only three countries, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, have the majority of respondents approving of ASEAN’s response.

“It’s member states are torn between honouring the principle of non-interference and keeping ASEAN credible as a regional organisation in the eyes of Southeast Asia and the international community,” the report said.

For respondents who expressed disapproval on the handling of the crisis, over 40pc thought ASEAN should help mediate between the Myanmar government and Rohingya communities, followed by 24pc proposing more diplomatic pressure on the country.

Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-favours-china-over-us-survey-shows.html