Deep Dish on Global Affairs Is the West Ready for an Asian Century?
Feb 5, 2026
Kishore Mabhubani, former Singaporean diplomat and author on Asian geopolitics, and Avinash Paliwal, SOAS researcher on South Asian politics, discuss Asia’s rising power. They debate whether the 21st century belongs to Asia, China versus India’s roles, regional cohesion amid diversity, trade realignments after U.S. disruption, and how perceptions of U.S. influence are shifting.
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Asia Returning To Economic Primacy
- The 21st century will be the Asian century because China and India are regaining historic economic primacy.
- Kishore Mabhubani argues Western domination of world history is over and Asia is returning to its long-term norm.
Western Turmoil Accelerates Shift
- Western political dislocation coincides with Asia's economic and military ascent, accelerating global change.
- Avinash Paliwal links Western polarization to the faster reordering of global power toward Asia.
Manufacturing Shift Drives Power
- Economic weight, especially manufacturing, is shifting decisively to Asia and will shape world history.
- Kishore Mabhubani notes China rose from ~5% to ~30% of global manufacturing since 2000 and could reach 45% by 2030.
