Timor-Leste's Political Success and China's Influence

Timor-Leste, known as East Timor, has successfully avoided the political resource curse by establishing a vibrant democracy and suboptimal natural resource management. The country's success is attributed to the deep roots of its political parties in the independence struggle, leading to a semi-presidential system that allows political parties to abide by election defeats. China's reluctance to increase policing and defense support in East Timor is due to the potential over-reaction from Australia, which is not a concern for the Pacific nation's president. East Timor aims to join ASEAN by 2025 and has extensive security cooperation with Australia. China and East Timor have upgraded bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, potentially giving Beijing more influence in the region while satisfying East Timor's desire for stronger ties with major economies.