By Samson Shen

On April 17th, China’s President Xi Jinping wrapped up a multi-day tour to Southeast Asia, visiting Vietnam, then Malaysia and finally Cambodia. His visit came just over a week after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on a majority of the world’s countries in his Liberation Day address on April 2nd. On April 9th, Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs exceeding 10% for all nations except China.

During Xi’s visit, all three Southeast Asian nations laid out the red carpet for the Chinese president. In Vietnam, Xi met with President Luong Cuong and Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, portraying China as a stable, dependable economic partner in contrast to the unpredictability of the United States. “Both China and Vietnam should strengthen strategic resolve,” Xi stated, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “jointly oppose unilateral bullying acts, uphold the global free trade system, and keep global industrial and supply chains stable.”

Vietnam, which will face a 46% tariff on all exports to the US once the 90-day pause expires, is among the hardest-hit nations under Trump’s tariffs. During the visit, China and Vietnam announced several bilateral agreements, including supply chain, railway, and export deals. Xi also pledged to expand access for Vietnamese agricultural exports into the Chinese market.

This warm reception in Vietnam was replicated in Malaysia and Cambodia. In Malaysia, Chinese and Malaysian officials reached broad agreements spanning trade, tourism, railway infrastructure, and agriculture. Meanwhile in Cambodia, which is already one of China’s closest trading partners in the region, Xi reiterated China’s commitment to supporting Cambodia’s economic growth and security, reinforcing their relationship as trusted allies.

However, at the same time, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia continue to play a cautious balancing act between the differing and competing influences of Washington and Beijing. While Trump’s tariffs could be detrimental to their economies, aligning too closely with China raises concerns about political overdependence and regional security, especially given China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. These tensions mirror the position and the broader dilemma faced by ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), a 10-member regional economic bloc, that these three Southeast Asian nations are a part of. ASEAN will be hit hard by Trump’s tariffs but its member nations are wary of retaliation, instead seeking negotiation and dialogue with the US. But should these negotiations fail to bear fruit, ASEAN leaders will have to find other economic solutions.