Comparing the United States and China’s Foreign Aid to Education in Southeast Asia

Department of History, University of Macau, 999078 Macau, China

^* Corresponding author: mc24042@um.edu.mo

Abstract

Since the Second World War, foreign aid has evolved from an initial focus on economics and technology to a comprehensive focus on broader areas, including education. The comparison between the aid measures of the United States and China to Southeast Asia and the motives behind them help to gain a deeper understanding of their political, economic, and cultural influence over the region. The paper first offers updated statistics and analyzes the specific measures of the U.S. and China’s educational aid in Southeast Asia, including implementing basic, higher, and vocational education programs and providing scholarships. The paper then summarizes their aiding characteristics that the U.S. enjoys a long aiding history and a relatively mature aiding system, while China, as an emerging force in the foreign aid system, needs more practical experience. The paper finally compares their educational aid from descriptive characteristics, material outcomes, and motivations and determinants. The paper concludes that though there are variations in aid funding and outcomes between the United States and China, the divergence in specific measures is less pronounced. Both countries actively utilize foreign aid to increase their influence on recipient countries in Southeast Asia; however, the fundamental difference in their aid modalities lies in the norms and legitimate discourses.