Title: China-Southeast Asian Relations Today: realities and challenges
Speakers: Dr. ZHIQUN ZHU, Associate Professor, Department of Political
Science and Department of International Relations, Bucknell University

Date: March 23th (Mon.), 2015, 12:00 – 13:30
Place: Tonan-tei Room No. 201, Inamori Foundation Memorial Building, CSEAS, Kyoto University

Abstract:
Southeast Asia is a crucial part of China’s “good neighbor diplomacy” and occupies a significant position in China’s foreign policy. Relations between China and Southeast Asian nations have come a long way, from ASEAN’s firm anti-communist stance at its founding in 1967 to the close economic, cultural and even political ties with China today. The complex, dynamic, interdependent, and generally friendly relationship is often eclipsed by the international media’s focus on problems between China and several ASEAN members, most notably the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. What is the current status
of China-Southeast Asian relations? How have the two sides promoted the relationship? What are the challenges in the relationship? Through tracing developments since the early 1990s, this talk will explore the multifaceted dimensions of the relationship today as well as challenges ahead.

About the speaker:
Zhiqun Zhu is currently Robert Wood Visiting Professor at the AKP program at Doshisha University in Japan. He is the inaugural Director of China Institute and Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Bucknell University, USA. He was Bucknell’s MacArthur Chair in East Asian politics from 2008 to 2014. Dr. Zhu is the author and editor of 7 books on Chinese foreign policy, East Asian politics, and US-China relations, including China’s New Diplomacy: Rationale, Strategies and Significance (Ashgate, 2013); Understanding East Asia’s Economic “Miracles” (Association for Asian Studies, 2009); and US-China Relations in the 21st Century: Power Transition and Peace (Routledge, 2006). He is also the editor-in-chief of the 4-volume reference series Globalization, Development and Security in Asia (World Scientific Publishing, 2014).

Moderator: Mario Lopez, CSEAS, Kyoto University