China and Southeast Asia in the Xi Jinping Era

In 2012, the Communist Party of China (CPC) inaugurated the Xi Jinping era when it elected him to be the General Secretary of the CPC. The following year Xi was elected President of the People’s Republic of China. The Xi Jinping era has seen a remarkable transformation of Chinese foreign policy, which has been adjusted to facilitate the achievement of what Xi has proclaimed as “the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.” Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative has become a major element of Chinese economic diplomacy, while the Chinese military-industrial complex under his leadership has strengthened China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea with reclamation works and the installation of military facilities on its occupied islands. This edited volume will focus on the countries of Southeast Asia and examine how their relations with China have been transformed in the Xi Jinping era.

This is an updated and timely study of the changing relationship between China and Southeast Asian countries. The rapidly changing roles of the U.S. and China as superpowers in the region have led to unstable, but also unexpected, results.

Alvin Cheng-Hin Lim is research fellow with International Public Policy Pte. Ltd.Frank Cibulka is adjunct associate professor Zayed University in Abu Dhabi.