Mr. Ian Seow Cheng Wei is a Senior Analyst in the China Programme of S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University. He holds an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Public Policy and Global Affairs with a Minor in History from NTU. Ian’s research focuses on China’s foreign and security policy, military-security developments in Southeast Asia, and ASEAN regionalism. His work has been featured on leading international affairs outlets such as The Diplomat, and East Asia Forum, and he has contributed expert commentary on defence issues in Southeast Asia to the South China Morning Post.

• China’s foreign and security policy
• China’s defence relations with Southeast Asian states
• Military and security affairs in Southeast Asia
• ASEAN regionalism

RSIS Commentary Series

• From Corals to Conflict: When do Environmental Issues Build Trust or Undermine it in the South China Sea?

  19 November, 2025

IDSS Papers

• IP25123 | The Garuda Meets the Vigorous Dragon: The Significance of the Indonesia-China J-10 Deal

  17 December, 2025

• IP25116 | IDSS Paper 116/2025 | Rough Seas, Calm Waters: Understanding China’s Varied Approaches in the South China Sea

  09 December, 2025

Journal Articles

• “China’s conception of regional security order: an analysis of Defence White Papers from 2010 to 2019” (with Dylan Ming Hui Loh) in Australian Journal of International Affairs, 2025. pp. 586-601

Op-Eds

• “What’s Behind the Cancellation of Singapore’s Fighter Jet Basing in Guam?”, The Diplomat, 27 August 2025
• “China’s Security Success Conditional on Southeast Asia”, East Asia Forum, 1 August 2025