Zhai Kun
Senior Research Fellow, Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Peking UniversityArticles by Zhai Kun
Politics
Can ASEAN find its own voice between great powers?
As great power rivalries intensify, Southeast Asia is moving beyond mere geopolitical balancing and pursuing “epistemic autonomy”. The region is rejecting imported Western narratives to build its own knowledge, trust local institutions, and dictate its own future on its own terms, say Chinese academics Li You and Zhai Kun.
Li You, Zhai Kun
21 May 2026
Politics
Crisis as catalyst: How Trump 2.0 could strengthen China-ASEAN ties
Every enhancement of China-ASEAN cooperation has had a strong supporting impetus, namely, the crisis-driven impetus, asserts Chinese academic Zhai Kun. In the current context, China and ASEAN countries should have the confidence to transform the impact of Trump 2.0 into new impetus for further enhancing China-ASEAN cooperation.
Zhai Kun
26 Mar 2025
Politics
Can the US keep its promises in Southeast Asia?
Under President Joe Biden, the US seems to be stepping up its engagement of Southeast Asia, not least with frequent mentions of the region in the US's new "Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States" document, say Chinese academics Zhai Kun and Yuan Ruichen. However, countries in the region should question whether the US will deliver on its promises and really has the capacity to further their development goals. This flurry of activity may in fact just be another means of containing China with the region's buy-in.
Zhai Kun, Yuan Ruichen
25 Feb 2022
Economy
Chinese academics: How China and ASEAN can deepen digital economy partnership
With the conclusion of the 1st ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN) last month and the series of digital policies introduced, ASEAN is ready to move forward on building an integrated digital economy. Even as ASEAN aims to become an important player in the digital global value chain, there are areas where China and ASEAN can work together to achieve a win-win situation. Professor Zhai Kun of Peking University and Yuan Ruichen, member of the research group of the BRI Big Data Innovation Experimental Project, suggest cooperation in areas such as building smart cities, cybersecurity and digital governance.
Zhai Kun, Yuan Ruichen
22 Feb 2021
Politics
Chinese academics: Mekong must not become second South China Sea
China said that it would share year-round hydrological information of the upper Mekong with downstream countries during the recently concluded 3rd Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting held via video conference. Will this help assuage fears that China is using the control of water flow in the Mekong as a lever, literally, to exert greater influence on the CLMVT (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand) countries in ASEAN? Chinese academics Zhai Kun and Deng Han warn that China and Southeast Asian countries must be wary of external forces politicising matters in the Mekong region.
Zhai Kun, Deng Han
31 Aug 2020