The Role of Technology Standards in Strategic Hedging
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12979709 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Darren J Lim (0000-0003-1565-8510, Australian National University, corresponding author), Anthea Roberts (0000-0002-8775-0001, Australian National University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-11 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Asian Politics & Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1943-0787 • E-ISSN: 1943-0779 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/aspp.70065 |
| OpenAlex | W7128732992 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 16 |
This article argues that technology standards provide Southeast Asian states with a distinct mechanism for hedging amid intensifying US–China technological rivalry. Traditional hedging strategies emphasizing economic engagement without political alignment are increasingly constrained by the weaponization of technological interdependence, politicizing previously neutral technology decisions. We develop a framework showing how active participation in global standards‐setting offers strategic ambiguity and preserves autonomy, identifying four standards‐based mechanisms. Descriptive analysis—including Singapore's leadership in AI governance, Malaysia's diversified digital investment policies, and Vietnam's procurement strategies—highlights how these mechanisms help maintain technological neutrality, reduce vendor lock‐in, and protect sovereignty. Theoretically, we advance the hedging literature by showing how economic policies increasingly risk confounding hedging strategies, but that standards embody a logic mitigating these risks. Empirically, we provide evidence of engagement with standards in practice, illustrating how standards can enable smaller states to manage geopolitical pressures while maximizing economic and strategic flexibility
Ambiguity · Comparability · Geopolitics · Investment (military · Politics · Procurement · Reservation · Technology policy · Vendor · Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare Studies · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · Indian Economic and Social Development
Getting hedging right
Hedging via Institutions
Governance of artificial intelligence in Southeast Asia
Choosing not to choose
Malaysia’s Hedging Strategy Towards China Under Mahathir Mohamad (2018–2020)
The concept of hedging and its application to Southeast Asia
Chinese Influence through Technical Standardization Power
How Do Weaker States Hedge? Unpacking Asean states’ alignment behavior towards China
Shades of grey
Weaponized Interdependence
Reassessing Hedging
Practice diffusion in China's two-pronged engagement in global technical standardization
The Externalization of China's Technical Standardization Approach
The geopolitics of technology standards
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |