Asia After US Hegemony: China, ASEAN and a New Security Order | Dr. Warwick Powell

If there is one region where Western imperialism has thoroughly come to a dead end, it's East and Southeast Asia. The name of the game is diversification of partnerships. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters" Presentation 14: Warwick Powell Warwick Powell explores how energy, production and financial infrastructure shape a changing world order. Drawing lessons from conflict in West Asia, he argues that vulnerable American bases undermine established security arrangements across Asia. He proposes an ASEAN-centered regional order grounded in neutrality, economic integration and locally driven cooperation. The discussion examines China’s industrial rise, alternative payment systems, green energy, Australia’s strategic choices and the dangers of destabilization, asking how regional societies might navigate declining hegemony while avoiding another devastating war. Warwick's Links: Substack: https://warwickpowell.substack.com/ Neutrality Studies Links: Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.com Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donate Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shop Time Stamps 00:00 Warwick Powell: violence and systemic change 06:05 Energy, production and China’s rise 11:49 West Asia and vulnerable US bases 20:31 Financial infrastructure and alternative payments 23:18 Asia, Australia and the limits of US power 27:38 An ASEAN-centered neutral security order 31:05 Discussion: regional cooperation, energy and payments 48:10 US retrenchment, destabilization and regional choices