China's Rise in Mainland ASEAN

New Dynamics and Changing Landscape

The rationale for this volume on China's Rise in Mainland ASEAN: New Dynamics and Changing Landscapes stems from the rise in recent years of China, ASEAN's giant neighbor, and in its wake the significant economic, political, and socio-cultural developments in the ASEAN region. In the last two decades, China has successfully established itself as a powerful regional and global power, surpassing Japan in 2010 as the second largest economy of the world, and has become a major player in the affairs of South East Asian nations.

At the same time, while China's spectacular growth makes it vulnerable in terms of expanding its global dependence, it also makes its neighbours equally vulnerable due to their growing dependence on China. All of these developments have led China through its evolving foreign policy to exert considerable influence on its immediate ASEAN neighbours in many complex ways.

While the China–ASEAN bilateral relations are soaring, there are growing concerns among ASEAN member countries about the nature of China's engagement with ASEAN. In this context, this book focuses on China's influence on mainland ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. China's Rise in Mainland ASEAN: New Dynamics and Changing Landscapes contributes useful insights, rich discussions, as well as the debates relevant to building a knowledge base about and better understanding of China's rising influence in mainland ASEAN.

Contents:

• Introduction (Suthiphand Chirathivat and Anupama Devendrakumar)
• Connectivity and Human Security in Mainland ASEAN and China: A Conceptual Discussion (Vira Somboon)
• China's Connectivity with Mainland ASEAN: The Strategy, Progress and Prospect — with a Focus on Myanmar (Lei Zhuning)
• China's OBOR Strategic Implications for Mainland Southeast Asia (Ukrist Pathmanand)
• China and Mainland Southeast Asian Countries Relationship: From the History to the Future (Yang Baoyun and Patcharinruja Juntaronanont)
• China's Influence on Myanmar: A Strategic Perspective (Aung Kyaw)
• Rising China and Tourism of Five Mainland ASEAN Countries (Rugphong Vongsaroj)
• How Laos Can Benefit from the ASEAN–China Free Trade Agreement (Buavanh Vilavong, Santisouk Phounesavath and Bounthone Soukhavong)
• Challenges Facing Chinese Enterprises in the Lao PDR (Thantavanh Manolom)
• China's Land Connectivity to ASEAN: Potentials of Mandalay-Lashio-Muse-Ruili Economic Corridor (Suthiphand Chirathivat)
• China's Rising Fruit Consumption and Impacts: Case Studies of the Chinese Entrepreneurs' Engagement in Thai Fruit Exportation (Wannarat Tantrakoonsab)

Readership: Students, academics, researchers and practitioners in the field of China Studies and Southeast Asian Studies.
Key Features:

• China's rising influence is a new dynamic and the landscape of emerging China is rapidly changing in the region. However, only a few books previously published on the subject have dealt adequately with this subject
• The book addresses up-to-date analyses on different issues and aspects of these new dynamics, changes and challenges
• At the turning point for China's increasing role in the East Asian region, particularly, the countries in mainland ASEAN that share a common border with China, this book raises questions concerning the nature of China's rising influence and its implications for the region. The book addresses the current topical issues and challenges that come with China's new role in the region
• The book is written by ASEAN experts and specialists in the field who brought to bear their direct experiences in the discussions on the influence and impact of China's rise in the region
• The book complements existing works of scholars in the areas such as ASEAN–China relations, China's role in the Mekong region, and China's Belt and Road Initiative