The Cambodian Center for Regional Studies (CCRS), in partnership with Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia’s Faculty of Social Sciences and International Relations will organize a Public Lecture on “Southeast Asia’s Security Concerns in the Age of US-China Rivalry” by Dr. Rahman Yaacob, Research Fellow, Southeast Asia Program, the Lowy Institute, on Tuesday, 21 May 2024, from 9:30am -11:30am, at Sen Monorom Hall, Third Floor, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (Toul Kork Campus).
Great power rivalry is not a new phenomenon in Southeast Asia. Since the Second World War ended, the region has seen contestation for influence between different great powers. In the contemporary period, this contestation involves the US and China. A significant ramification of US-China rivalry for influence in Southeast Asia is that regional states’ security concerns are often interpreted from the lens of great power rivalry. Rarely considered are the domestic and regional dynamics that influence the decision-making process of Southeast Asia’s leaders and policymakers. This public lecture will analyse the pressing security challenges facing Southeast Asian states. Drawing from publicly available defence documents from regional states, such as Defence White Papers, the study also draws data from interviews with policymakers and military and intelligence officials across Southeast Asia. It looks at the intersection between U.S.-China rivalry and regional security issues across the maritime, cyber, and non-traditional security domains.
To secure your seat, please register via this link: bit.ly/PLbyDrRahmanYaacob
| Program | |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Registration |
| 9:30 – 9:35 AM | Opening Remarks by Mr. Him Raksmey, Executive Director, CCRS |
| 9:35 – 9:40 AM | Group Photograph |
| 9:40 – 10:50 AM | Public Lecture on “Southeast Asia’s Security Concerns in the Age of US-China Rivalry” by Dr. Rahman Yaacob, Research Fellow, Southeast Asia Program, the Lowy Institute Open Discussion Session Moderated by Amb. Pou Sothirak, Distinguished Senior Advisor, CCRS |
| 10:50 – 11:00 AM | Closing Remarks by Amb. Pou Sothirak, Distinguished Senior Advisor, CCRS |
| 11:00 – 11:30 PM | Refreshment and End of Public Lecture |
About the Role Players:
Dr Abdul Rahman Yaacob is a Research Fellow in the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. His research interests include Southeast Asia’s defence and security issues and the region’s relations with major powers.
Before joining the Lowy Institute, Rahman completed a PhD at the National Security College, Australian National University. His dissertation examined Singapore’s defence policy and analysed the broader strategic and security issues relating to ASEAN during the Cold War. During his PhD program and with two other project members, Rahman was a lead investigator on a project funded by a grant from the Australian Army Research Centre. The project focused on understanding Southeast Asian security concerns and explored the potential areas for closer defence cooperation between Australia and its northern neighbours. He was also an Academic Staff member and lectured in the ASEAN-Australia Defence Postgraduate Scholarship Program at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, ANU. From 2020 to 2023, he was a Teaching Fellow at the Australian Command and Staff Course, Australian War College.
Before commencing his PhD program, Rahman served nearly 18 years with the Government of Singapore. He held various command and staff postings in security-related areas and received several awards, including Ministerial Awards for Operational Excellence and a Commendation for the Rejection of Bribe.
Ambassador Pou Sothirak is a retired academic currently serving as the Distinguished Senior Advisor to the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies (CCRS). He was the Executive Director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace from May 2013 to August 2023. He was appointed as Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia from September 2013 to January 2014. He was a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of the Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore from January 2009 to December 2012. He also served as Cambodian Ambassador to Japan from April 2005 to November 2008. He was elected Cambodian Member of Parliaments twice during the national general election in 1993 and 2003. He was appointed as Minister of Industry Mines and Energy of the Royal Government of Cambodia from 1993 to 1998. He has written extensively on various issues concerning the development of Cambodia and the region.