China Tops US in Popularity in Strategic Region

China has surpassed the U.S. in popularity over the past year in Southeast Asia, a recent survey found. If forced to choose between the two strategic rivals, 50.5 percent of respondents said the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN) should align with Beijing versus 49.5 percent who opted for Washington, according to the results published by Singapore’s Yusof Ishak Institute. The 10-nation bloc pursues a middle path between China, its neighbor and largest trade partner, and the U.S., a military and diplomatic counterweight in the region. China fared worse in last year’s edition of the poll, with only 38.9 percent…