China, the world's most populous nation, has always exerted great influence on the traditional kingdoms and modern states of Southeast Asia. Today, history and culture continue to shape the modern relationship.

In this concise volume, Martin Stuart-Fox charts the history of relations between China and Southeast Asia across two millennia, examining patterns of diplomacy, commercial networks, and migration, and explaining how these have varied over time. He shows how China's traditional world view was disrupted by the modern order of sovereign nation states, how the country struggled to adapt through its 'century of humiliation' from the opium wars to the proclamation of the People's Republic in 1949 and how, since then, China has sought to restore its standing in the world.

A Short History of China and Southeast Asia is a fascinating account of imperial ambition, internal collapse and revival, cultural and commercial striving, war and revolution. Here, the 'Middle Kingdom' plays its role on the world stage, from the beginnings of its history to its growing contest with the USA for dominance of the Asian region. An important insight into the complicated history of the fastest-growing region in the world, to its growing contest with the USA for dominance of the Asian arena.

A title in the series edited by Milton Osborne.