ABSTRACT
The goal of this chapter is to analyze how energy and energy security issues are likely to impact on China’s future economic and political relations in Southeast Asia. In broad terms, China is increasingly engaged in Southeast Asia in a variety of ways. Economic and financial ties are mushrooming as Chinese products and investment flow into Southeast Asia and as reciprocal flows reach China. These trade and investment relations are driving a growing range of trade negotiations, agreements, and other interchanges on economic relations. China is becoming increasingly involved diplomatically as its economic, political, and military power in the region grows. Conversely, the Southeast Asian states are seeking to “harness” China to cooperative security and political relationships with ASEAN, ASEAN+3, and bilaterally with key regional powers. All this reflects China’s growing economic and political weight in the region, as well as globally, that accompanies its booming economy and growing trade power. For a wide range of reasons, Beijing is increasing its diplomatic attention toward the region while, at the same time, the Southeast Asian states try to manage and channel the embrace of China’s growing power to their advantage.1
