"The Power of Infrastructure: How China Wields Structural and Discursive Power in Southeast Asia"

"The Power of Infrastructure: How China Wields Structural and Discursive Power in Southeast Asia"

Introduction:
Infrastructure has long been recognized as a tool for exercising power and influence. From the transcontinental railway in the United States to the railway projects in Prussia/Germany and Russia, infrastructure has played a crucial role in shaping economies, politics, and even warfare. In recent years, China has emerged as a global power, and its use of infrastructure projects, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has become a significant instrument in exerting its dominance. This article explores how China wields structural and discursive power through infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Indonesia and Laos.

The Significance of Structural and Discursive Power:
China's President, Xi Jinping, believes in the critical significance of non-material power, particularly structural power and discursive power. Structural power refers to the ability of a dominant state to establish its preferences with minimal effort, leading weaker states to subjugate their own interests to align with the dominant state. Discursive power, on the other hand, involves the use of discourse to shape meaning, identities, and interests. Both types of power are central to China's infrastructure vision and its exercise of influence in Southeast Asia.

Infrastructure Projects as Tools of Power:
China's mega-infrastructure vision, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a prime example of how infrastructure is used by the Chinese government to wield structural and discursive power in Southeast Asia. The BRI aims to connect Africa, Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific into a holistic economic and moral unit. By providing much-needed infrastructure and financing, China can establish its influence and reshape the global order.

The Role of Southeast Asia in Chinese Power Projection:
Southeast Asia holds strategic importance for China due to its proximity and the shared focus on the BRI and "peripheral diplomacy." Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia and Laos, are infrastructure-starved, making them ideal targets for China's power projection. By providing technology, financing, and skilled labor, China can extend its power over these countries and shape their identities and preferences to align with its own.

Case Study: Laos and Indonesia:
Laos and Indonesia provide interesting case studies to examine the extent of China's structural and discursive power. Laos, a smaller neighbor of China, willingly accepted its asymmetric disadvantages and pushed forward with the Vientiane-Boten High-Speed Railway (HSR) project despite risks to its sovereignty and national security. This decision showcases Chinese structural power in action.

In contrast, Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest power and de facto leader, was able to negotiate better terms for the Jakarta-Bandung HSR project. Through fierce competition with Japan, Indonesia was able to exercise leverage and secure lower interest rates and no sovereign guarantees from China. This case demonstrates that stronger states can push back against Chinese demands and negotiate more favorable terms, thereby limiting China's influence.

Actionable Advice:

1. Diversify partnerships: Southeast Asian countries should aim to diversify their partnerships and not rely solely on Chinese infrastructure investments. By engaging with multiple stakeholders, countries can maintain a balance of power and negotiate better terms for their infrastructure projects.
2. Strengthen domestic capabilities: Southeast Asian countries should invest in developing their own technological capabilities and skilled labor to reduce dependence on foreign powers. This will enable them to have more agency and bargaining power in infrastructure negotiations.
3. Enhance regional cooperation: Southeast Asian nations should strengthen regional cooperation and establish frameworks for transparency, accountability, and fair competition in infrastructure projects. By working together, countries can mitigate the risks of asymmetric power relations and ensure their national interests are protected.

Conclusion:
China's use of infrastructure projects as tools of power in Southeast Asia is a testament to the importance of structural and discursive power in international relations. While weaker states may accept their asymmetric disadvantages, stronger states can leverage their position to negotiate more favorable terms. By diversifying partnerships, strengthening domestic capabilities, and enhancing regional cooperation, Southeast Asian countries can navigate the complexities of Chinese influence and protect their own interests in the face of infrastructure-led power projection.