List of maps -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. China's march south greeted by hope and anxiety -- 2. Myanmar: marriage of convenience, not a match made in heaven -- 3. Cambodia: China's proxy in Southeast Asia -- 4. Laos: frontline state on China's belt and road -- 5. Vietnam: standing up to Beijing in the South China Sea -- 6. Thailand: "swirling in the wind" -- 7. Malaysia: resetting the dial with China -- 8. Singapore: 'You are ethnic Chinese, so you shouldn't oppose us" -- 9. Indonesia: China ties entangled by domestic politics -- 10. Philippines: Duterte's strategic dalliance with Beijing -- 11. Brunei: China's investment drives relations -- Epilogue: for Southeast Asia, how close to China is too close? -- Index.
Summary:
"China's rise and stepped-up involvement in Southeast Asia have prompted a blend of anticipation and unease among its smaller neighbors. The stunning growth of China has yanked up the region's economies, but its militarization of the South China Sea and dam building on the Mekong River has nations wary about Beijing's outsized ambitions. Southeast Asians long felt relatively secure, relying on the United States as a security hedge, but that confidence began to slip after the Trump administration launched a trade war with China and questioned the usefulness of traditional alliances. This is compelling book provides a snapshot of ten countries in Southeast Asia by exploring their diverse experiences with China and how this impacts their perceptions of Beijing's actions and its long-term political, economic, military, and "soft power" goals in the region"--Publisher's summary
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.