Conclusion [Rising China's Influence in Developing Asia]

This chapter concludes by presenting the key findings from the volume as a whole: China demands less from its weakest neighbours and these small developing Asian states exhibit more agency in managing Chinese influence than we might expect. China's record influence is mixed, often generating unintended consequences, and there are significant contradictions in Chinese conceptions of influence. The chapter also reflects on the broader implications of the findings and puzzles emerging from this project for refining concepts of power and influence; further research on China's influence in the world; and considerations for those coping with China's reshaping of international order