and Implications for China Post-Disaster Assistance in Southeast Asia

Overview I. Similarities Southeast Asia / China Case Studies: Myanmar, Philippines II. China and Southeast Asia Implications for China

I. Similarities: Shared Values Principles of sovereignty and non-interference Host country request Bilateral engagements preferred Political-military approach in post-disaster assistance

I. Similarities: Case Studies Myanmar 2008: ASEAN played key role in mediating between Burmese government and UN Concerns over sovereignty persist re: foreign humanitarian aid; non-interference impedes tackling of Rakhine crisis Philippines 2013: Bilateral contributions preferred

II. China and Southeast Asia China & SEA: direct implications for each other Accelerated by US pivot in Asia Close ties to China directly influence and/or impede decision-making on ASEAN level Geopolitics, esp. South China Sea dispute likely to shape China’s aid-giving in SEA -> Possible unequal distribution of aid, fragmentation among member states (pro-China vs. pro-US) -> Engage with ASEAN but without posing a ‘threat’ to China