The News
Southeast Asia is a nexus of global diplomacy this week, with tariffs and the US-China battle for influence dominating the agenda.
On a tour of the region, China’s premier urged ASEAN nations and several Gulf countries to create a “vibrant economic circle” with China, as they agreed to strengthen trade ties in Kuala Lumpur.
French President Emmaneul Macron visited Hanoi and signed $10 billion-worth deals, pitching Europe as a reliable trading partner for Southeast Asia.
And amid US criticism of China’s military assertiveness, Beijing’s defense minister will likely skip a defense conference in Singapore.
ASEAN nations are caught between Beijing and Washington, but one Malaysia-based analyst told Bloomberg, “There is no substitute for the United States.”