Xi's Southeast Asia Charm Offensive Counters US Tariffs, Boosts Regional Infrastructure
Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a strategic three-nation Southeast Asian tour, visiting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia to strengthen regional economic ties amid escalating US-China trade tensions. The diplomatic mission underscores Beijing's push to position itself as a defender of free trade while accelerating infrastructure projects that could reshape regional supply chains in response to Trump's protectionist policies.
Xi Urges Regional Unity Against "Unilateral Bullying" Amid Trade War
Chinese President Xi Jinping began his Southeast Asia tour in Vietnam, where he met with top Vietnamese officials including Communist Party Secretary-General To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. During these high-level meetings, Xi called on Vietnam to "jointly oppose unilateral bullying" and "uphold the stability of the global free trade system as well as industrial and supply chains," according to Chinese state media Xinhua BBC1.
Though Xi didn't explicitly name the United States, his comments came in direct response to the escalating trade war initiated by the Trump administration, which recently imposed tariffs of 145% on most Chinese imports. Beijing responded with its own 125% tariffs on American products entering China BBC1.
The timing of Xi's tour gained heightened significance after the Trump administration threatened Vietnam with tariffs of up to 46% before issuing a 90-day pause last week. This context has transformed what was reportedly a long-planned diplomatic visit into what analysts describe as a "charm offensive" aimed at strengthening regional economic alliances BBC1.
Following his Vietnam visit, Xi traveled to Malaysia before concluding his tour in Cambodia, underscoring China's strategic focus on the region amid growing economic pressures.
Multiple Agreements Signed as Trade Tensions Drive Regional Cooperation
The tour has yielded tangible results, with several cooperation agreements signed in Vietnam covering key areas including supply chains, rail links, and aviation Reuters2.
In Malaysia, Xi's visit coincided with announcements that Malaysian mobile data service company U Mobile will roll out the country's second 5G network using infrastructure technology from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE BBC1.
These agreements highlight how US trade policies are inadvertently pushing Southeast Asian nations closer to China economically. As Stephen Olson, a former US trade negotiator, noted: "While Trump seems determined to blow up the trade system, Xi is positioning China as the defender of rules-based trade, while painting the US as a reckless rogue nation" BBC1.
US-China Rivalry Plays Out Through Southeast Asian Partnerships
The diplomatic tour has not gone unnoticed in Washington. President Trump characterized Xi's meeting with Vietnamese leaders as a ploy to figure out how to "screw the United States of America," according to statements made to reporters in the Oval Office BBC1.
However, regional experts caution that Southeast Asian nations are carefully balancing their relationships. Susannah Patton, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute think-tank, observed that Vietnam will be careful to "manage the perception that it is colluding with China against the United States, as the US is too important a partner to put aside" BBC1.
"In many ways, China is an economic competitor as well as an economic partner for South East Asian economies," Patton added, highlighting the complex dynamics at play in the region BBC1.
Expert Analysis: A "Golden Opportunity" for China
Analysts view Xi's tour as a strategic move to present China as a reliable partner in contrast to what Beijing portrays as an unpredictable United States under Trump's leadership.
Patton characterized the current moment as "a golden opportunity for China to score that narrative win," with Xi likely to continue portraying the US as "a partner which is unreliable [and] protectionist" while presenting China as "a partner that is there" BBC1.
This diplomatic offensive comes at a critical time when Southeast Asian economies are reassessing their trade relationships and supply chain strategies in response to US tariff policies. The timing gives Xi leverage to strengthen China's position as an economic and political counterweight to the United States in the region.
Future Implications: Infrastructure Projects Could Reshape Regional Trade
Perhaps the most significant long-term implication of Xi's tour and the broader US-China trade tensions is the acceleration of China-backed infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, particularly railways linking the region to China.
US protectionist tariffs have "injected urgency into China-driven ambitions to connect railways and ports from northern Vietnam to China," according to reports from the region SCMP3.
These infrastructure projects could fundamentally reshape regional trade patterns. Dang Phuc Nguyen, secretary general of Vietnam's fruit association (Vinafruit), highlighted how improved rail connections would help Vietnamese farmers get their produce to Chinese markets before spoilage occurs SCMP3.
"The proposed railroad projects open up many possibilities. If Vietnam can meet the quality standards of China's market, we have the potential to dominate it," Nguyen told reporters, noting particular potential for products like durian SCMP3.
Such infrastructure developments could potentially accelerate intra-regional trade and reduce Southeast Asian economies' dependence on Western markets, creating more resilient supply chains in the face of unpredictable US trade policies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves during a meeting with Vietnam's communist party general secretary To Lam at the Office of the Party Central Committee in Hanoi on April 14, 2025. (Getty Images)
A Pivotal Moment for Southeast Asian Geopolitics
As Xi concludes his three-nation tour, the geopolitical landscape in Southeast Asia stands at a crossroads. The escalating US-China trade war is forcing countries in the region to recalibrate their diplomatic and economic strategies, potentially accelerating a shift toward greater regional integration centered around China's economic orbit.
While US tariffs were designed to protect American industries and pressure China, they may instead be cementing Beijing's influence in its neighborhood while accelerating infrastructure projects that could bind the region more tightly to Chinese markets. As these dynamics unfold, will Southeast Asian nations successfully balance their relationships between competing superpowers, or will economic pressures force them to choose sides in an increasingly divided global economy?
