Professor Enze Han, the author of The Ripple Effect: China’s Complex Presence in Southeast Asia (2024, Oxford University Press), was awarded the HKU Social Sciences Outstanding Research Output Award for 2024-25 this month. This book offers a nuanced perspective on China's presence in Southeast Asia, which goes beyond a narrow focus on the Chinese state; emphasizes the impact of non-state actors, such as private businesses and migrants, who can significantly shape perceptions of China in the region; and uncovers the complications