In brief
During his trip to Vietnam, President Xi positions China as a champion of free trade while navigating trade conflicts with the US.
Xi Jinping has kicked off his tour in Southeast Asia by calling on Vietnam to stand united against what he describes as "unilateral bullying," a clear nod to escalating tensions with the US, even if he didn’t mention it directly. This trip comes as President Trump contemplates imposing further tariffs on Vietnam, amidst a prolonged trade battle between the US and China.While meeting with Vietnam’s Communist Party leaders, Xi emphasized the need to uphold a global free trade system, subtly painting the US as a disruptor in the process. His visit is perceived as a strategic maneuver to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia while criticizing US trade policies. Despite being a close partner, Vietnam is wary of appearing too allied with China, given its valuable relationship with the United States.As Xi wraps up his visit to Vietnam, he is expected to continue his quest to solidify China's position against the backdrop of US tariffs and trade uncertainty in Malaysia and Cambodia next. The dynamics of Southeast Asian diplomacy appear more crucial than ever as the US and China vie for influence amid these economic conflicts.
