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.
Sample Chapter(s)
Chapter 1: Introduction
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.

Suthiphand Chirathivat is Professor Emeritus of Economics at Chulalongkorn University. He is also Executive Director of ASEAN Studies Center, and Chairman of Chula Global Network. He was Dean of Faculty of Economics, Chairman of the PhD Program in Economics, Chairman of Economics Research Center and Center for International Economics at Chulalongkorn University. His academic interests include the issues related to international trade, investment, finance, regional integration, and development, and emerging issues in Asia in relation to the global economy and society. He obtained a PhD degree from University of Paris.
Buddhagarn Rutchatorn is Associate Professor of Economics at Chulalongkorn University. He is also Executive Deputy Director of ASEAN Studies Center, and Director of the Master of Arts programme in Korean Studies, which is the co-programme of Chulalongkorn University and Seoul National University. He was Associate Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Deputy President at Chulalongkorn University. His academic interests include the issues related to international finance, business, investment, managerial economics, and economic issues in the Mekong Region. He received a PhD degree from Keio University, Tokyo.
Anupama Devendrakumar is Lecturer at the College of Maritime Studies and Management of Chiang Mai University, Samut Sakhon province. Her research interests are in the areas relating to trade and development and regional economic integration in Asia, with special reference to ASEAN and its dialogue partners. Most of her prior work has been on India's bilateral economic relations with ASEAN as a bloc as well as its individual member countries. After obtaining a PhD degree from the Faculty of Economics, she worked as a Research Fellow at ASEAN Studies Center of Chulalongkorn University, and has been based in Thailand since 2011. She has also travelled extensively in the ASEAN Region.