Human Rights in Southeast Asia and the Influence of China

Speakers: Professor Don Emmerson, Stanford University, Sarah Cook, Freedom House

Moderator: Amy Freedman, Associate Research Scholar, WEAI

Human rights in Southeast Asia have deteriorated along with democratic freedoms.  Don Emmerson will give an overview of human rights issues in Southeast Asia and look at how Chinese foreign policy in Southeast Asia affects, and is affected by, the more despotic character of ASEAN’s mainland compared with its maritime member states. He will address how much or how little influence China has in the region.  Sarah Cook will then address the issue from the other side; looking at China’s internal political dynamics and rights abuses and how China’s foreign policy towards Southeast Asia is affected by those domestic conflicts.

This event is co- sponsored by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and the Global Asia Institute at Pace University.