1、S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2 By Shanthi KalathilE A S T A N D S O U T H C H I N A S E A S B U L L E T I N 4 Influence for Sale?Chinas Trade,Investment and Assistance Policies in Southeast AsiaAbout this publicationThe bulletin series provides timely analysis and information on security issues in the Ea
2、st and South China Seas.For further information,please contact infocnas.org.China invests several billion dollars per year in Southeast Asia to bolster its regional influence and advance its strategic interests.Although this investment has improved relations with Vietnam and other Southeast Asian ne
3、ighbors in some ways,Chinas well-documented charm offensive1 has proved less effective than is commonly perceived.Chinas development projects have often alienated local populations,and its nationalistic rhetoric over the South China Sea has increasingly strained its relations with other South China
4、Sea claimants.A Decade of Charm and CashChinas foreign policy emphasizes its“peaceful rise,”nonconfronta-tional discourse and a moderate tone in the South China Sea region.As a result,trade,investment and official development assistance(ODA)are important elements of Chinas foreign policy with key re