Beijing hopes to compel neighbours to consider its interests in the South China Sea and Taiwan, defence analyst says.
Southeast Asia is playing an ever-growing part in China’s investment and diplomatic decisions, particularly as Beijing’s rivalry with Washington heats up. In the final instalment of a four-part series on China’s ties with Asean, Hayley Wong looks at Beijing’s efforts to expand defence cooperation in the region.
China is looking to forge closer defence ties with its Southeast Asian neighbours as it engages in a “competition for partnerships” with the United States in the region.
