Building peace along the Belt and Road? Chinese security assistance to Myanmar and The Philippines

This project examines Chinese security cooperation with Myanmar and the Philippines. Many countries in Southeast Asia embrace China economically and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) promises much needed investments. While the BRI primarily focuses on infrastructure and trade, it is a key part of Xi Jinping’s foreign policy design to increase China’s influence in its regional neighborhood. 

China’s security assistance to the two countries ranges from military capacity building to the provision of AI surveillance technology. Through a combination of document analysis and interviews, the research team will explore the features of such engagement and how it affects peace and security in the two countries, as well as the development of strategically important BRI infrastructure projects located in highly volatile regions.