The Dragon Looks South: China and Southeast Asia in the New Century (Hardcover)

by Bronson Percival (Author)
Key Phrases: strategic partnership, new security concept, maritime chokepoints, Southeast Asia, United States, South China Sea (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“Percival provides a brilliant work on the change in Chinese policy that has allowed it to achieve its goals of becoming a dynamic economic growth engine. He explores the change rfom assertiveness politics to accommodation politics. In doing so, the Chinese have invited Southeast Asian countries to share in the economic growth....Percival has provided an interesting view of economic relationships in China and Southeast Asia.....The book is recommended for policy makers, business executives, and undergraduate and graduate-level business classes.”–MultiCultural Review

“This is a well-written book on the nuances of China's relations with the countries of Southeast Asia by Percival, currently on the research staff at the Center for Strategic Studies. While security dimensions receive primary attention, the author does not neglect economics. All references are in English. However, Percival includes material from interviews with a wide range of figures in several countries, so he is not overly dependent on secondary literature. The canard that China is a threat--economic or military--to its neighbors is effectively destroyed by his evidence and argumentation. Of course, Taiwan is an exception to that finding. Percival presents a convincing argument that there is no inherent US-China rivalry in the region, at least not in terms of a zero sum game....Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students.”–Choice

“Percival systematically marshals the political and economic facts of the various ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries' current relations with China as well as the collective ASEAN/China relationship. His snapshots give full weight to the diversity within ASEAN, including the varying levels of foreign policy sophistication, but he also helpfully draws a general distinction between China's impact on "mainland" South East Asia - Thailand, Indo-China and Burma, former payers of tribute - and the "maritime" rest.”–Asian Affairs

“A former diplomat with the US Foreign Service and State Department, Percival argues that China's growing influence in Southeast Asia cannot be explained without taking into account the politics, economics, cultures, and foreign policies of the 11 states of the region, which is among the world's most ethnically, politically, and economically diverse.”–Reference & Research Book News

Book Description

The Dragon Looks South analyzes the role and relative importance of all the components of China's comprehensive strategy for Southeast Asia, including the political, economic, and soft power dimensions of China's multifaceted relationships both with individual states and the region as a whole. The book also clarifies and prioritizes current American interests in Southeast Asia, an essential first step in assessing the implications for the United States of China's new role in Southeast Asia.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Praeger; annotated edition edition (June 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275994260
• ISBN-13: 978-9780978990
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,247,241 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, Objective Analysis of China-SE Asia Relations, March 3, 2008

By	Ellen L. Frost (Washington, DC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bronson Percival's book on China's relations with Southeast Asia is clearly written, objective, nuanced, and sensible. Written by a former diplomat, it avoids inaccurate generalizations and looks carefully at China's interaction with individual countries in the region. The author's distinction between countries on the mainland and those farther from China reflects a valuable historical perspective. The chapter on "soft power" is a refreshing antidote to the "hype" surrounding China's gains in the region. Based in part on numerous interviews, the book would work well in the classroom and should be required reading for U.S. policy-makers.