For countries across south-east Asia, China is becoming an increasingly important economic partner, raising questions about the region’s direction and future.

But FT research on data for trade, foreign direct investment and tourism in Asean countries has found that, while China’s expanding influence is undeniable, Japan, South Korea, and other countries remain important players — and the region’s countries still mostly trade with one another.

China’s growing role in the region’s economies comes at a time when it is also expanding its military presence in the South China Sea, raising concerns among countries in the region. Chinese influence is increasingly becoming a factor in the region’s politics, including in Malaysia, where it has emerged as a campaign issue in the May 9 election.