Page Reader AI | After the fanfare, what did China’s Xi Jinping achieve on his trip to Southeast Asia?

After the fanfare, what did China’s Xi Jinping achieve on his trip to Southeast Asia? | South China Morning Post

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Xi Jinping's Southeast Asia Trip: A Summary

Chinese President Xi Jinping's weeklong trip to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia emphasized regional unity against US protectionism. The visit involved significant diplomatic fanfare, including official welcomes and ceremonial events.

Key Messages

Xi's key message throughout the trip was the need for countries to stand firm against protectionism and unilateral actions from the US. This message was consistently delivered in meetings with leaders in each country.

Vietnam: Xi urged resistance to “unilateral bullying.”
Malaysia: Xi advocated for countering unilateralism and protectionism.
Cambodia: Xi highlighted the negative impact of trade wars on the multilateral trading system.

Observers interpreted the trip as a strategic move to enhance China's regional influence and position it as a counterbalance to the US's trade policies.

Expert Opinion

Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University, highlighted that the trip's main message was China's role as a counterbalance to American protectionism.

Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia rolled out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping during his weeklong trip to the neighbouring countries.

In Hanoi, hundreds of children waved flags as he appeared at the Presidential Palace. In Kuala Lumpur, an honour guard fired off a 21-gun salute. And in Phnom Penh, King Norodom Sihamoni broke protocol to greet the Chinese president at the airport.

But beyond the pomp, the substance of the trip was a message of unity – of the need for countries to stand firm against protectionism amid the uncertainty thrown up by the United States, including by its “reciprocal” tariffs.

In Vietnam, Xi told Vietnamese leaders that they should stand up against “unilateral bullying”; in Malaysia, he said the two countries should counter unilateralism and protectionism; and in Cambodia, he stressed that trade wars undermined the multilateral trading system.

Observers said the trip helped to build trust within the region, and underlined the strategic importance in Southeast Asia had for China in countering the US tariffs.

“The main message that was being sent is that China will be the counterbalance to America’s protectionism. While America is not often named, the message is quite clear,” said Dylan Loh, assistant professor of foreign policy at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.