Senior Researcher, Universidad del Desarrollo l PhD Researcher, Fudan University l ASEAN l Security Studies l Development Studies
I have the privilege to publish an article with Professor XUE Song where we discuss about educational cooperation between China and Southeast Asian states. Some fun facts from the article include that Tan Kah Kee and other Chinese diaspora pioneers were instrumental in establishing the first private schools in Southeast Asia around the early 1900s, significantly shaping the region’s educational landscape. Fast forward to the 1970s and 1980s, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, China sent over 50,000 officials to Singapore to learn from Lee Kuan Yew’s modernization strategies. Today, these educational ties have evolved, with Southeast Asian students now forming the largest international student body in China, with over 100,000 studying there during the 2021-2022 academic year. In recent years, educational cooperation between China and Southeast Asia has expanded significantly, with Chinese universities setting up campuses in the region and attracting a growing number of Southeast Asian students. This collaboration is part of China's broader strategy to increase student enrollment, diversify funding sources, and improve its regional image through cultural diplomacy. The rise in Southeast Asian students studying in China and the establishment of Chinese educational institutions in Southeast Asia highlight the deepening ties between the regions. https://lnkd.in/gxD7YQfp
