Wong MNC Center Publications and Sponsored Publications

“The Effect of Chinese FDI in Southeast Asia: Lessons for Policymakers”

Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
April 30, 2026
This brief underscores some of the policy lessons flowing from Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, ed., The Effects of Chinese FDI in Southeast Asia: Cheer, Commonsense, and Clarification along the Belt and Road (London: Routledge, 2026).  Readers are welcome to quote from the attached report with proper attribution.  Recommended reference: Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, “The Effects...

“The Effects of Chinese FDI in Southeast Asia: Lessons for Businesspeople”

Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
April 22, 2026
This brief highlights the business lessons flowing from Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, ed., The Effects of Chinese FDI in Southeast Asia: Cheer, Commonsense, and Clarification along the Belt and Road (London: Routledge, 2026).  Readers are welcome to quote from the attached report with proper attribution.  Recommended reference: Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, “The Effects of Chinese...

The Effects of Chinese FDI in Southeast Asia: Cheer, Commonsense, and Clarification along the Belt and Road

Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
October 18, 2025
This book explores the economic and political effects of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (COFDI) through in-depth and comparative analyses of COFDI in economically and politically diverse Southeast Asia countries.  Featuring 21 case studies of COFDI in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia, the book looks at three...

China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN

Min-Hua Chiang
October 18, 2025
Insufficient attention has been paid to the limits of the statistics informing work on Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI).  This chapter, the second in the book, exploits three major sources of data about Chinese outward FDI (OFDI) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to illustrate major trends...

China’s Investment in Indonesia

Siwage Dharma Negara and Neo Rebecca Hui Yun
October 18, 2025
As demonstrated convincingly in this, the third chapter of the book, the increase in Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia has produced both positive and negative impacts.  As for the former, Chinese outward FDI (OFDI) has brought greater employment opportunities, higher income levels, and better living standards.  As...

Evaluating the Effects of Chinese Outward FDI in Malaysia

Guanie Lim and Yat Ming Ooi
October 18, 2025
Through case studies of Chinese investment in the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) and Forest City, chapter 6 unpacks the effects of Chinese investment in Malaysia and their drivers.  In terms of effects, this chapter offers three observations.  Firstly, doubts remain over the quantity and quality of technology transfer.  Secondly,...

Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Myanmar

Angela Tritto and Roger Lee Huang
October 18, 2025
Chapter 7 examines Chinese foreign direct investment in Myanmar.  Our results show that domestic politics and changes in Myanmar’s political regime were key determinants of investment realization.  Regime type also affected investment outcomes.  “Military regime projects” featured employment opportunities far below projections, no or scant technology transfer, minimal or no...

The Effects of COFDI in Cambodia

Sophal Ear
October 18, 2025
Cambodia’s prolonged exposure to high levels of Chinese investment raises the question: what effect does Chinese outward FDI (OFDI) have on technology transfer, labor, and domestic politics in Cambodia?  Chapter 8 also investigates the impact of three factors—(1) host country regime type; (2) host country development level; and (3) Cambodia’s...

Environmental Outcomes of COFDI in Southeast Asia

May Tan-Mullins and Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
October 18, 2025
China’s environmental and social impact in Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries have been pronounced because Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI) has been flowing into Southeast Asia (SEA) at an unprecedented rate.  Chinese outward FDI (OFDI) is much welcomed in SEA given its potential economic benefits and contribution to...

Working Paper: “Non-State Actors and Perceptions of China in the Global South”

Percyslage Chigora and Edson Ziso
September 1, 2025
ABSTRACT China has become an integral part of the economic trajectory of many countries in the Global South.  This is certainly the case for Cambodia and Zimbabwe.  As for the former, China is its top investor and donor.  As for the latter, China remains among its largest sources of foreign...