Subversion and seduction : China's economic statecraft / Audrye Wong

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wong, Audrye, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Geopolitics--China.

Geopolitics.

China--Foreign economic relations.

China.

International economic relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource : illustrations

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2026]

Summary:

China has consistently sought to wield economic clout in its quest for global geopolitical influence. Yet, as the book shows in convincing detail, this use of economic statecraft has seen varying degrees of effectiveness, with results less successful than commonly assumed. Subversion and Seduction examines the reasons why economic statecraft only works some of the time, showing that outcomes depend on both the inducement strategy and the target country's political setting. Audrye Wong folds China's numerous economic inducements into two strategic categories, 'subversive carrots' and 'legitimate seduction', and then examines how public accountability mechanisms in recipient countries can facilitate or impede the effectiveness of such inducements.

"Subversion and Seduction counters the conventional wisdom that China commands geopolitical influence simply by virtue of its economic prowess. It shows how China’s use of economic statecraft has met with successes but also failures. Effectiveness depends on both China’s inducement strategy—subversive or legitimate—and the target country’s political setting, or the level of public accountability. This argument draws on evidence from field interviews and detailed case studies spanning Southeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, and Europe. The book provides a new framework to understand the varied outcomes of economic inducements and the conditions under which economic capabilities translate into political influence; analyzes the outcomes of China’s economic influence across multiple contexts and what this means for China’s rise; and assesses the broader implications for great power competition and U.S.-China relations"-- Oxford Academic

Contents:

Introduction : economic tools and geopolitical influence

Theoretical framework

The microfoundations of public accountability : survey experimental evidence

Cash for comment : subversive carrots in Cambodia and Myanmar

Reaping what you sow : backlash in the Philippines

Malaysia renegotiates : subversive failure and seduction success

Peddling or persuading in Australia

Legitimate seduction in Japan : diplomatic normalization and beyond

Driving wedges in Europe

Economic statecraft beyond China

Conclusion and implications

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from home page (Oxford Academic, viewed June 25, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version: Wong, Audrye Subversion and seduction

ISBN:

9780197823187

0197823181

9780197823170

0197823165

9780197823163

0197823173

OCLC:

1589184569

Publisher Number:

CIPO000389312

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license