The rise of China in Southeast Asia (SEA) : an analysis of hedging strategy on selected SEA states from 2008-16

• Main Author: Yeo, Amanda Joy Sue Mae
• Other Authors: Azusa Katagiri
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science::International relations
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76704
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Over the past decade, China has experienced strong economic growth rates and a clear enhancement of its military might. This has prompted SEA states to recalibrate their relationship with China through different arrangements. As such, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the ways in which states have chosen to behave towards major powers, particularly the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore. It focuses on how these states manage the rise of China with their existing relationship with the US through economic and defence aspects. Specifically, the paper examines whether they have adopted hedging strategy as a means to manage major power engagement. The findings reveal that SEA states neither validate nor invalidate the hedging strategy; rather, it can only be observed on a case-by-case basis. This has larger implications on regional integration and major power involvement in the region in the future.