In today's rapid rise and expansion of China's influence all around the world and in ASEAN during the past two decades, there has been an increasing awareness of various countries and regions adjusting themselves to the new trends, both in terms of opportunities and risks alike. This has become necessary due to the rapid changes in many aspects — political landscapes, economic issues, as well as social and cultural considerations. This book, China's Rise in Mainland ASEAN: Regional Evidence and Local Responses, provides timely insights on some of the latest issues pertaining to ASEAN and China, rapidly shifting interactions and upcoming geostrategic challenges.ASEAN can be said to be undergoing a new era, with China becoming more intertwined and involved with the ASEAN region than ever before. The complexity of the regional dynamics means that this phenomenon cannot be captured with a single narrative or discipline of study. In addressing the matters at hand, this book sets out to examine and provide deeper understandings on the regional implications, and local responses from ASEAN countries, and from the perspective of the region as a whole. The underlying rationale is that adequate understanding on the matters involved in this new ASEAN-China era will help to encourage better and mutually beneficial relationships between both sides.The analysis of this book will be categorized into four main themes — (1) 'The Big Picture', concerning China's policies, strategies, and diplomatic stances, (2) 'Implications and Responses', dealing with how ASEAN members react and respond to China's actions and regional influence, (3) 'Perspectives on Trade, Investment and External Debt', which handles the economic facets of the ASEAN-China interactions, and (4) 'Connectivity in Focus', addressing various emerging and existing dimensions of connectivity expansion between ASEAN and China, both physical and virtual.

"In today's rapid rise and expansion of China's influence all around the world and in ASEAN during the past two decades, there has been an increasing awareness of various countries and regions adjusting themselves to the new trends, both in terms of opportunities and risks alike. This has become necessary due to the rapid changes in many aspects - political landscapes, economic issues, as well as social and cultural considerations. This book, China's Rise in Mainland ASEAN: Regional Evidence and Local Responses, provides timely insights on some of the latest issues pertaining to ASEAN and China, rapidly shifting interactions and upcoming geostrategic challenges. ASEAN can be said to be undergoing a new era, with China becoming more intertwined and involved with the ASEAN region than ever before. The complexity of the regional dynamics means that this phenomenon cannot be captured with a single narrative or discipline of study. In addressing the matters at hand, this book sets out to examine and provide deeper understandings on the regional implications, and local responses from ASEAN countries, and from the perspective of the region as a whole. The underlying rationale is that adequate understanding on the matters involved in this new ASEAN-China era will help to encourage better and mutually beneficial relationships between both sides. The analysis of this book will be categorized into four main themes - (1) "The Big Picture", concerning China's policies, strategies, and diplomatic stances, (2) "Implications and Responses", dealing with how ASEAN members react and respond to China's actions and regional influence, (3) "Perspectives on Trade, Investment and External Debt", which handles the economic facets of the ASEAN-China interactions, and (4) "Connectivity in Focus", addressing various emerging and existing dimensions of connectivity expansion between ASEAN and China, both physical and virtual"--

Southeast Asia's interactions with China have tremendously transformed and prospered in the recent decades, with China becoming ever more present on Southeast Asian soil in recent history, touching all dimensions: economic, political, social, and cultural. The current ASEAN-China dynamics are remarkably different from the past, bearing both excitement and caution for watchers. In this context, the advent of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has added a new perspective to the nature of China's rise in ASEAN. As the various BRI projects continue to unfold in ASEAN countries, public concerns about the impact of these projects are on the rise.However, there has not been enough extensive study on this issue. This edited book contributes towards bridging the knowledge gap by facilitating experts from ASEAN, China, and beyond, to discuss, reflect, debate the ground realities of BRI based on the local governments' and local people's experiences and narratives. The chapters in this volume address various dimensions of the BRI, provide unique perspectives, empirical evidence, and updated information on the overall progress of BRI in ASEAN.

Laos has the smallest population, the weakest military, and despite rapid economic growth in recent years, one of the lowest levels of per capita income in mainland Southeast Asia. Yet a glance at the map reveals its strategic location, between China and Cambodia and Thailand and Vietnam. As Laos was formerly a crossroads for trade routes, the socialist government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic seeks to transform the country into a prosperous crossroads at the heart of this rapidly developing region. Historical Dictionary of Laos, Fourth Edition provides an in-depth examination of one of the least-known countries in Southeast Asia through a detailed chronology, comprehensive introduction, and extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 1,000 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, as well as aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book will be an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Laos.

This book, based on exploratory ethnographic research, analyzes the experiences of African migrants in Thailand. Thailand has always been a regional migration hub with Africans being the most recent. Sitting at the intersection of race and migration studies, this book focuses on the challenges Black and labor migrants face trying to integrate into a society that has had very limited contact with and knowledge about Black Africans. Bringing together research from African, Thai, and European scholars, this volume focuses on forced migrants, such as Somali asylum seekers, and labor migrants, largely African men seeking better livelihoods in niche economies such as gem trading, garment wholesale, and football playing and coaching. The book also includes theoretical contributions to the understanding of precarity and human security, the concept of in/visibility to analyze the challenges African migrants face in Thailand as well as the concept of othering to understand discrimination against Africans. The book also analyzes the Thai migration policy context and the challenges facing Thai policy-makers, law enforcement representatives, and the migrants themselves. While not comparative in nature, this volume directly connects with studies of Africans in other parts of Asia, especially China. Addressing an important gap in migration research, this book will be of interest to researchers across the fields of migration and mobility studies, African Studies, and Asian Studies.

Blending fine-grained case studies with overarching theory, this book seeks to rethink 1,000 years of Eurasian history.

The sharp realities of financial globalization become clear during crises, when winners and losers emerge. Crises usher in short- and long-term changes to the status quo, and everyone agrees that learning from crises is a top priority. The Evidence and Impact of Financial Globalization devotes separate articles to specific crises, the conditions that cause them, and the longstanding arrangements devised to address them. While other books and journal articles treat these subjects in isolation, this volume presents a wide-ranging, consistent, yet varied specificity. Substantial, authoritative, and useful, these articles provide material unavailable elsewhere. - Substantial articles by top scholars sets this volume apart from other information sources - Rapidly developing subjects will interest readers well into the future - Reader demand and lack of competitors underline the high value of these reference works

This book examines the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to improve China’s image around the world, thereby increasing its "soft power." This soft, attractive form of power is crucial if China is to avoid provoking an international backlash against its growing military and economic might. The volume focuses on the period since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, and is global in scope, examining the impact of Chinese policies from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Africa and South America. The book explains debates over soft power within China and delves into case studies of important policy areas for China’s global image campaign, such as film, news media and the Confucius Institutes. The most comprehensive work of its kind, the volume presents a picture of a Chinese leadership that has access to vast material resources and growing global influence but often struggles to convert these resources into genuine international affection. With a foreword by Joseph Nye, Soft Power With Chinese Characteristics will be invaluable to students and scholars of Chinese politics and Chinese media, as well as international relations and world politics more generally.

East Asia : Seventh report of session 2005-06, Vol. 2: Oral and written Evidence

Bill Pritchard provides an important update on how current trade methodologies are implemented as China becomes one of the world’s largest fresh fruit importers from countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.