China’s the mainland Southeast Asia Strategy

Abstract

The aim of this article is to answer two questions, why and how China tries to connect itself to the mainland Southeast Asia? It concludes that linking with the mainland Southeast Asia countries (Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand), China hopes to fulfill its three main strategic purposes 1) to develop two less advanced regions Yunnan and Guangxi 2) China need Burma as an outlet to Indian Ocean 3) The mainland Southeast Asia is another source of energy for Chinese economy especially gas and minerals from Burma. How China move to the mainland Southeast Asia is another question. Following the Mekong River line China has three main routes to link with the mainland Southeast Asia countries: let’s call them western, central and eastern routes. China initiates the China-Myanmar Transport Corridor Project as its western route to open Yunnan to Bay of Bengal via Burma. China joins the Greater Mekong Sub-regional Economic Cooperation Program and its proposed Kunming –Singapore hi-speed rail line as its central route. According to Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan are planned to be a bridge connecting with maritime Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei.