Chinese foreign policy : Southeast Asia

Abstract

This chapter examines the changing contours of China–Southeast Asia relations from the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 to the present. It consists of two parts: The first part presents a chronological historical overview of the relationship between China and Southeast Asia. During the Mao era (1949–1976), ideology had been the main driving force behind Chinese policy towards Southeast Asia. Since the launch of the ‘reform and opening-up’ (gaige kaifang, 改革开放) program by a new leadership under Deng Xiaoping at the end of 1978, Sino-Southeast Asian relations have been mainly shaped by the economic interests and realpolitik calculations of different stakeholders, including the Chinese and Southeast Asian governments as well as major external powers such as the United States and Japan. The second part of this chapter discusses three major factors affecting this relationship: ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia, South China Sea disputes and increasingly complex trade and investment net- works. The conclusion identifies a few currently debated issues and some future challenges, including the PRC’s ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative and its efforts to project soft power.