Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s first overseas trip of the year was meant to showcase the Asian powerhouse's clout in the region. Now, U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats have turned it into a push to keep Southeast Asian leaders from cutting deals at Beijing’s expense.
Xi arrived in Vietnam on Monday and was due to visit Malaysia and Cambodia later this week, just days after Trump raised tariffs on China but gave everyone else a 90-day pause. In doing so, Trump is seeking to punish Beijing for retaliating, while enticing the smaller Asian economies to offer concessions to stave off drastic duty hikes. The Chinese leader is scheduled to visit Malaysia and Cambodia next.
"The fact that Xi Jinping is coming to visit these countries is very significant,” said Lynette Ong, professor of Chinese politics at the University of Toronto. "I would read it as Xi’s attempt to form alliances to fight back against the United States in the trade war.”
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