Eclipsing US Influence in Southeast Asia: China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

The BRI is a foundational pillar in China’s aspiration for national rejuvenation through remaking the ancient ‘silk road’ into maritime, land, and cyber roads. The paper aims to outline China’s purposes and objectives in the BRI in Southeast Asia, the interplay of domestic needs of selected Southeast Asian countries with the allure of the BRI, and the dynamics of these economic-political relationships vis-à-vis the interests of China and the United States in the region. It starts with the claim that, geographically, maintaining a friendly neighbor policy or ‘periphery diplomacy’ will help secure China’s borders and solidify the BRI maritime and land silk roads. In many instances, the dynamics of international political economy or the intertwining relationship of economics and politics come into play. On the other side, domestic politics also affects decision-making on BRI projects. Different contexts show the dynamics of domestic politics and BRI projects. While some praised the intention and promises of the BRI, especially in hitting the development needs of the target countries, particular evidence shows that its portrayed vigor and benevolence to launch its equivalent of a Marshall plan to rehabilitate and aid Southeast Asian countries have encountered various issues on the projects per se and their long-term implications. Ultimately, the findings suggest that the selected Southeast countries’ BRI engagement was due to domestic concerns for local socio-economic needs. The evidence also suggests that China intends to outcompete the United States in terms of being the region's leading provider of economic development. As a result, China may stand to dislodge US influence in the region through the continuous improvement of the BRI.