June 2013
Southeast Asia: Negotiating Stormy Seas
Deng Xiaoping used to say that the foreign policy breakthrough he was most proud of was the full normalization of China’s relations with the countries in Southeast Asia. In the 1980s, Deng’s policies helped China transform itself from a deadly enemy of its southern neighbors to a potential partner. Over the next two decades, China nurtured relationships in its backyard. Yet over the past few years many of these efforts have gone to waste: from Myanmar to the Philippines, countries are scrambling to create counterweights to Chinese power. Beijing’s aggressive attitude in Southeast Asia, not least over the contested South China Sea, threatens to unravel years of shrewd diplomacy. In this issue, we explain why China’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia has backfired so badly.
Also in this issue:
- Michael Komesaroff explains why coal prices will remain low
- Paul French assesses the impact of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
- Rosealea Yao explains why construction growth is anemic
- Chao Gupiao wonders whether the new securities regulator will do any better than his predecessors
- Jeremy Goldkorn argues that social media will not bring about political reform
- Laila F Khawaja and Matthew Forney show how the state subsidizes private companies
- Simon Cartledge is unconvinced by David Shambaugh’s new book on China’s foreign policy