Opinion | Why the unhappy legacy of US colonialism in Southeast Asia should be a lesson to China
- Southeast Asian nations, because of their colonial experience, are sensitive to real or imagined slights. Although China is different from their former colonial masters, it must tread carefully in expanding its influence in the region
As China’s power and influence grow, so does the glare of the spotlight on its behaviour towards other nations and cultures. The conduct of nations and their citizens overseas is part of their soft power: the capability to assert their economic or cultural influence and shape the preferences of others. The management of hard power, including military might, and soft power constitutes political influence.
Back when Western countries dominated the region, they colonised Southeast Asian cultures. They generally treated the indigenous peoples with cultural ignorance and arrogance. That attitude of cultural superiority would come back to haunt the French in Vietnam, the Dutch in Indonesia and the Americans in the Philippines, just to name a few countries that cast off the shackles of colonialism.
Some argue that former colonies were improved by the colonial experience – the Western development of infrastructure, and administrative and educational systems. But such so-called benefits did not soothe the souls of patriots and cultural nationalists who maintained their indigenous values and dignity. Although they eventually rebelled, the pain and anger unleashed by cultural subjugation continue to this day.
