Economic preparation of the environment: A selective empirical analysis of Chinese investment in the Philippines

Download
Author
Fleck, Tanner N.
Wissler, Jonathan G.
Date
2017-06Advisor
Borer, Douglas
Second Reader
Cunningham, Dan
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Over the past decade, the People's Republic of China has increasingly used its economic might as a means of influence to pursue grand strategic objectives that some scholars believe are aimed at countering U.S. presence and influence in the Asia-Pacific region. This thesis examines two aspects of Chinese economic strategy, foreign direct investment and development aid, in the context of the Philippines, which represents the primary U.S. foothold in the region. Using geospatial, link, and social network analysis techniques to examine a data set of Chinese investments in the Philippines from 2006 to 2016, this thesis attempts to answer the following question: What evidence does China's investment in the Philippines contribute to the understanding of China's grand strategic objectives? We find that these Chinese investments support and expand China's ability to monitor and control South China Sea access points, and provide interpersonal channels for Chinese influence over Philippine decision-making through the cultivation of allies within the economic arena. We recommend that U.S. diplomatic and defense officials view these and other Chinese international investments as a type of economic preparation of the environment designed to establish access/forward presence and build strategic relationships for future military and/or diplomatic exploitation.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Chinese investment in Latin American ports: the Ecuadorian, Mexican, and Colombian cases
West, Christina S. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2014-12);This thesis analyzes foreign investment in ports, assets and physical spaces that hold great strategic importance politically and economically at the national level and on a global scale. In particular, the thesis focuses ... -
REENERGIZING THE U.S. AND PHILIPPINES RELATIONSHIP: THE “PHILIPPINES BELT AND ROAD” PROPOSAL
DiSanto, David J.; Hunnell, Justin M. (Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2021-12);The purpose of this thesis is to examine why the United States should care about its future relationship with the Philippines through the overarching lens of Pankaj Ghemawat’s Cultural, Administrative, Geographic, and ... -
CHINA’S DIGITAL SILK ROAD
Miller, Patrick J. (Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2023-09);China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) is a technology subset of the Belt and Road Initiative which represents a focal point of China’s foreign policy. It aims to create markets for Chinese tech companies, establish international ...