Jeffrey Reeves (2018) argues that since 2012, Xi Jinping has demonstrated "a concerted imperialist policy" towards its developing neighbor states to the south and west, especially Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Chinese overseas populations are also said to play a disproportionate role in Southeast Asian economies in what is referred to as the bamboo network. However, the bamboo network is a problematic theory, with most references referencing Amy Chua's "World on Fire" thesis published in 2003, almost two decades ago.