Dr Collin Koh, a Research Fellow at RSIS, commented on ASEAN countries’ position between the US and China amid geopolitical tensions between the two nations, saying: “There’s no desire to take sides – or to be seen to be doing so.” He goes on to reason that ASEAN has different interests in mind regarding China, such as a code of maritime conduct in the South China Sea and the development and access to a Covid-19 vaccine.