Amid virus and global tensions, 'Asean is not a pushover': Tharman

Singapore

TENSIONS between the United States and China will not disappear any time soon, but Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam is still optimistic about the outlook for Asean.

The South-east Asian bloc should be able to navigate an increasingly complex world, while the planned Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade deal can set the region on a new path, Mr Tharman said at a panel on Tuesday.