Confucius Institutes in the Mekong Region: China's Soft Power or Soft Border?

Scholarship on China's role in the Mekong region tends to focus on investment, trade, aid and immigration flows, while its cultural expansion receives little attention. The establishment of Confucius Institutes (CIs) in the Mekong region can be seen as an effort on the part of China to enhance the strength of its cultural power in relation to its neighbors. While Thailand and Cambodia appear to be widening their doors to welcome the institutes, other countries in the region tend to be reserved about accepting this special cultural vehicle from China. This article examines the activities of Confucius Institutes in the context of the growing presence of China in the Mekong region. By focusing on Thailand as a special case, the paper provides an initial assessment of the extent, nature and effect of China's Confucius Institutes, which is aimed at understanding how China develops its soft power assets in the Mekong region. The establishment of Confucius Institutes in Thailand and other countries in the Mekong region does, however, play an important role in connecting China's mainland and overseas Chinese communities in the region. Furthermore, by placing Confucius Institutes in the educational systems of these countries, China is increasing its diplomatic presence in the neighboring countries, and thereby enlarging its soft border.