ASEAN caught in 'economic cold war' over China: business lobby head

Indonesian executive urges nimbler Japan Inc. to match other foreign investors

20230606 Arsjad Rasjid main image

Arsjad Rasjid, chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, says an "economic cold war" has forced Southeast Asian companies to create "China and non-China" portfolios. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 

SAYUMI TAKE, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Southeast Asia is grudgingly open to helping European, U.S. and Japanese industries lessen their dependence on China, but needs to see more aggressive investment from them to do so, the head of a regional business lobby told Nikkei Asia.

Arsjad Rasjid, chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), lamented that companies in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations are being thrust into what he described as an "economic cold war" that has forced them to create "China and non-China" portfolios for their products.

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