Xi Jinping travels to Southeast Asia amid the war of tariffs with us

While China is facing the United States due to the punished trade war, it is under pressure to support its friendships all over the world, starting with its neighbors in Southeast Asia. But its relationships there are complicated.

China’s leader, Xi Jinping, will test these relations this week as Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia will visit the hope that it will increase the impact of the huge definitions imposed by President Trump on Chinese exports to the United States.

Mr. Xi is likely to throw China as a reliable global partner unlike the United States, which is unpredictable by President Trump, which led to an unpredictable tariff to financial markets and confusing governments. While in Vietnam, for example, Mr. Xi is expected to supervise the signature of about 40 agreements, including deals that would provide Vietnam plans to accept Chinese loans to a part of a railway worth $ 8.3 billion linking Northern Vietnam with China.

But his visit also indicates a diplomatic rope that countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia should walk as Southeast Asian countries are trying to negotiate with the Trump administration to stop them from the definitions.

Mr. Xi’s tour in Vietnam will start on Monday, followed by a three -day visit to Malaysia, which ends the week in Cambodia.

Trade in the foreground

Over the past decade, Beijing has participated in a huge batch to expand its economic and political influence throughout Southeast Asia. China is now the most important commercial partner in the region. Senior officials, including Mr. Shi, travel regularly there.

China is a major market for agricultural products in Vietnam, while Vietnam imports raw materials from China to many factories that pay exports. Between 60 and 90 percent of the raw materials for Vietnamese clothes heading to the American market comes from China.

Trade is likely to lead, a complex issue, agenda. It was discovered between American definitions and the dangers of Chinese goods that flood local economies, and Southeast Asia finds itself with limited options.

Since Mr. Trump imposed a tariff on Chinese goods during his first term, these countries have been alternative ways to these goods to reach the United States. This made Vietnam and Cambodia the target of Mr. Trump’s highly slope definitions – which temporarily stops for 90 days.

These countries will also be concerned that the result of the definitions that Mr. Trump has kept on Chinese goods, can flow an abundance of cheap Chinese goods, which they close from the American market, to Southeast Asia and the economies overlooking them there.

Mr. Shi will want to know more about how other countries respond to the trade war between the United States of China. JA Ian Chung, a professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said he would also want to strengthen relations in the event of friction.

He said, referring to the People’s Republic of China: “There are very real potentials that the goods that are the flow of these areas and excessive energy questions, and the possible Chinese dumping will appear again,” referring to the People’s Republic of China. “So he must fix these relationships.”

Sonal Pharma, the chief economist in Asia, with the exception of Japan in Nomura, said that local economies would likely provide measures to prevent China from throwing its goods on local economies. “Every country is now trying to protect home grass,” she said.

Achieving a balance between China with the United States

While searching for opportunities from China, Southeast Asian leaders may also need to avoid appearing very soon.

There are concerns among some Vietnamese officials, for example, that the prominent nature of Mr. Xi, in addition to the language that confirms China’s partnerships, may make it difficult for Vietnam to win a long -term rent from Mr. Trump’s tariff.

“Vietnam is definitely welcoming Shi to reduce her economic pain,” said Khang Fu, a visiting researcher at the Department of Political Science at Boston College. “But he will have to avoid creating the impression that Vietnam is separated from China while negotiating the reducing customs tariffs with the Trump administration.”

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, defended the relationship of the region to China in a modern gathering of its officials.

“China is a very important player that we cannot ignore and yes, some countries are facing problems with this,” he said at the meeting. “We continue to move in the best possible way, to secure peace and security and obtain most of the benefits in terms of economics and investments.”

Security conflicts and regional disputes

Beijing also has It funded the rebuilding of a major naval base in CambodiaGranting the Chinese military access to one of the world’s most maritime corridors. While he is in Malaysia, Mr. Shi is expected to provide his support for the current agreements to build railways and ports in the country.

Zunaira Saiieed She contributed to reports from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, O Narin Who is Bennah, Cambodia, and Alexandra Stephenson From Hong Kong.