The Twin Chessboards of US-China Rivalry: Impact on the Geostrategic Supply and Demand in Post-Pandemic Asia

This essay offers a small state perspective on US-China rivalry in the post-COVID-19 era. After tracing emergence of "twin chessboards" big power rivalry, namely, high and low politics competitions, assesses impact these competitions post-pandemic Asian order, with focus Southeast Asia. I argue that while competition has been rising rapidly (that is, military field), increasing importance politics—infrastructure connectivity development, technology, trade, finance, public health, other functional areas—is shaping prospects, pace, patterns onset Cold War 2.0. The intensified animosity across twin chessboards is widening scope competition, number players, mounting pressure all smaller states. Arguably, however, it also providing states more maneuvering space. These developments reshape geostrategic supply demand Accordingly, are developing additional layers partnerships actors near far, thereby broadening their hedging options an increasingly uncertain high-stake environment.