With the US elections just around the corner, people in Southeast Asia might think the US elections is a world away and remotely affects them in a small way.

Perhaps, they’re right. There are plenty enough issues in Southeast Asia as it is, with every country responding individually towards certain key issues like the current pandemic.

But there are reasons why Southeast Asians should care.

Deeper divisions, less ASEAN support

Americans are more divided than ever.

In America, the battle lines are drawn and the fight between two opposing political party ideologies continue to rage on. As these lines continue to extend beyond sociopolitical circles and into American homes and family life, the deeper the divide that current issues have the tendency to become politicised.

Take the current Covid-19 pandemic, probably the best example of a (public health) crisis that has turned political, with one party challenging the science behind the virus, and forcing people to pick a side. Not only have the battle lines been drawn deeper, but those who have already picked a side are left with little choice but to stay in their positions, to the point of normalising more radical ideologies, creating further and deeper divisions.

If America is to continue taking a more strategic stance and an arbiter of issues affecting ASEAN’s position with the rest of Asia, it first needs to keep its own house in order before it. Also resurfacing in the discussions surrounding the US election are the new norms Trump set for one of the benchmarks used by ASEAN countries to ascertain Western powers’ interest in their affairs – attendance of important diplomatic events.

Since coming to office, Trump has attended the East Asia Summit (EAS) once, in 2017.

Dispute with China on sovereignty over the South China Sea

Over the last decade, China exercised its military strength by lying claim in many islands on the South China Sea.

In July, the US administration toughened its legal position on the South China Sea dispute between China and Southeast Asian countries, aligning it with the findings of a 2016 international court ruling brought by the Philippines.

Use and abuse of ‘fake news’

Although Donald Trump definitely didn't invent the term "fake news", it's fair to say he popularised it. According to a study conducted by Factba.se, who monitored social media posts and audio transcripts of the current US president, he has used the phrase about 2,000 times since first tweeting it in December 2016. The president has regularly used "fake news" to dismiss news stories he felt was a personal attack on his performance and credibility. 

It's a term that's been picked up (and abused) by government leaders in Thailand, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, among others, and some have used allegations of spreading "fake news" to justify repression and prosecutions against opposition activists and journalists.

Civil society groups say that by using the term against credible, impartial reporting, politicians fundamentally undermine democracy, which relies on communicating basic facts.

Where does this leave Southeast Asia?

If the next American president continues to be a divisive figure who advocates “America first” policies, the less support we can all expect from the world’s most influential country. ASEAN will have to start thinking the way and manner on how they should be fighting their own political battles for economic and military security in the region.