Under Beijing’s Shadow: Southeast Asia’s China Challenge

The astonishing growth of China has yanked up the region’s economies, but its militarization of the South China Sea and dam building on the Mekong River have nations wary about Beijing’s outsized ambitions. Adding to that is the trade war launched by the Trump administration which has left Southeast Asians feeling less secure and losing confidence in the U.S. as a security hedge.

On 8 September, AMCHAM had a book discussion session with Mr. Murray Hiebert Senior Associate, Southeast Asia Program at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Mr. Hiebert’s recently released book Under Beijing’s Shadow: Southeast Asia’s China Challenge, provides a snapshot of ten countries in Southeast Asia by exploring their experiences with China and how it impacts their perceptions of Beijing’s actions and its long-term political, economic, military, and “soft power” goals in the region. Mr. Hiebert also provided a Malaysian perspective on the subject matter as well as the possible future.

It was a lively discussion and we thank Mr. Hiebert for spending his time with us during the Labour Day evening in the US.