China continues to tighten ties with its Southeast Asian neighbors, expanding its sphere of influence in the region through financial, infrastructural and military aid. Beijing appears happy to extend this assistance, but according to some analysts, this may have less to do with a warm, fuzzy feeling in Chinese officials’ hearts than with a quiet ambition to build a superpower.

Prior to the 1997 Asian economic meltdown, Beijing generally dealt with its neighbors using hard-nosed policies that further fueled the region’s long-standing fear of China. Over the past decade, however, it has transformed many of those relationships. Beijing has used its booming economy to provide military hardware, build civic infrastructure and offer advantageous loans to governments in need.

In doing so, it has also put a number of states in its debt.

In tiny East Timor, China is building a lavish foreign ministry and a presidential palace as well as barracks for the Timorese military. It has also provided military uniforms, medical and police groups, and training for civil servants and farmers.

“The Chinese government thinks that as good partners, good neighbors and good friends of Timor-Leste, we are obligated to give a helping hand,” Chinese Ambassador Su Jian said. “The leaders of Timor-Leste regard China like an elder brother and a most reliable friend.”

Beijing has also extended its right hand of friendship to Myanmar and Cambodia, gaining considerable influence in both countries, and is even building highways, an aqueduct and other projects in the Philippines, which has traditionally maintained close ties with Washington. Thailand and Indonesia have also received Chinese handouts.

“China’s experience is very rich in helping small and developing countries in Africa,” Su said. “The Chinese government knows exactly what these countries need and also can provide them with very pragmatic skills and technology. It is very suitable to development of these small countries.”

Some think it is also very suitable to development of Chinese strategy.

PetroChina has secured a contract to conduct surveys in East Timor and may potentially invest in an offshore field. The nation also lies on a somewhat strategic sea-lane, which Beijing wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on.

Tiny East Timor is just one example of China’s growing sphere of influence across the region. Analysts feel Beijing’s actions there and elsewhere reflect an agenda based on more than just the “golden rule.”

“China’s friendly stance is part of a broad diplomatic and economic policy throughout the region that has acquired the epithets ‘soft power’ and ‘charm offensive,’” the International Herald Tribune reports (July 11).

Joshua Kurlantzick, author of Charm Offensive: How China’s Soft Power is Transforming the World, feels China’s courtship of its neighbors does not mean Beijing is forgetting to put its own interests first.

“In a region where there is a historic fear of China, they are promoting the idea that China is a friendly partner,” he said. “And they do see these countries as far more strategic than the United States does, and so they are willing to spend resources on them.” Washington’s concentration on terrorist threats and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has made this an easy task to accomplish.

“They have been expanding their influence and building their links to governments in a very careful, sophisticated way,” Daljeet Singh, a Singapore-based policy analyst, said. “They are aware that in the past there was a good deal of suspicion of China, and their soft approach is designed to appease, to increase their footprint and their influence through trade agreements, free-trade offers, strategic partnerships.”

China’s helpful offensive is putting ious in its pocket and could turn traditionally American allies into Chinese allies in the future. Beijing’s well-documented re-colonization of Africa may well set a precedent for a similar offensive closer to home.

Look for China eventually to claim the favors it is currently handing out and to form a Far-Eastern superpower. Read “China’s Quiet War” for more information on Beijing’s global strategy.