It's purely soft-power influence, so far. It's documented in detail here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Invasion_(book)

Thanks for the link I'll have to get my hands on a copy.

Edit: I read the preface and I had no idea about the disgusting behaviour exhibited towards the Tibetan protesters in Canberra as the Beijing torch passed through[1].

I'm on my way to work and it is actually making me feel ill.

[1] https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2n1fjt

Not entirely. China isn't imperialistic in the same fashion as Russia. That said there are parallels in terms of power dynamics within ASEAN certainly when compared with the Caucasus.