In 2025, three forces reshaped the global economy: Trump’s tariff war, the AI revolution, and China’s green technology dominance. We focused on the headline-grabbing one—but the quiet ones mattered more.
This lecture argued that markets proved bigger than Trump; his tariffs were gamed, hedged, and neutralized. But no one is bigger than technology. AI and green tech are systemic transformations that will define winners and losers for decades.
What does this mean for ASEAN?
Dr Khor Hoe Ee, who was appointed NTUC Professor of International Economic Relations from 10 November 2025 to 20 February 2026, examined how the region can navigate great power rivalry and technological disruption through three strategic pathways: developing downstream AI applications (following the Grab model), turning China’s green dominance into FDI opportunities (following Indonesia’s EV and nickel success), and leveraging regional integration to amplify collective strengths. The challenges are significant, but pathways exist—ASEAN has agency, proven models, and strategies worth pursuing.
Watch the lecture here:
