Xi's Asian charming offensive is about keeping the US out

Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limit all rights reserved. Opinion Karishma Vaswani 4 min Read 20 Apr 2025, 03:30 IST Washington must recognize the strategic nature of competition with Beijing. (Via Reuters) Summary of China’s leader is eager to take advantage of a leadership vacuum left by US President Donald Trump in East Asia. Washington must recognize the strategic rivalry that Beijing sets. At first glance, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Southeastern Asian tour was focused on trade transactions, regional cooperation and friendship. In fact, he utilizes use of America’s leadership vacuum in the Indo-Pacific. Beijing wants a less American-centric Asia. US President Donald Trump’s trade war just accelerates it. Washington’s influence in this strategically important region is at stake. Previous administrations were clear about its importance, but under Trump it does not appear to be a coherent plan. This enabled Beijing to position himself as a champion of Solidarity, in sharp contrast to the US president’s economic bullying. Also read: How Trump’s advisers are tied up in knots about his tariff obsession, it wasn’t just a goodwill visit. It’s about soft and hard power projection. Xi’s journey to Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia were planned before rates were set, but these visits had more interest in light of Trump’s attempt to isolate China. Some major banks predict that the Chinese economy will expand 3-4% this year as US duties choking out exports. These serious projections made the Southeast Asia tour all the more important. It was a chance to restore political and economic ties. Trump criticized the meetings and accused his Chinese counterpart and the Vietnamese leader of being composed against Washington. He also called on China to reach out to him to kick off negotiations. Beijing seems to be listening. Last week, it appointed Li Chenggang, a former assistant trade minister during Trump’s first administration, as an important envoy to resolve the dispute. Other countries have received a 90-day US tariff delay, but they now have to forge transactions that comply with its approval. It is not hearts and thoughts, and this can lead to countries more receptive to the message of peace and wealth of XI, despite skepticism about Beijing’s territorial demands in the South China Sea. The rhetoric of XI got fresh urgency as he tried to create an image of global stability and position China as the alternative to the US. Recently, he promised to strengthen ties with other countries by managing ‘appropriately’ and improving the supply chain tires. In Hanoi, he reiterated his core message that there are no winners in a tariff war, “he received 45 trade agreements, including those focused on developing railroad infrastructure. Indo-Pacific to help, such as Ben Bland, director of the Asia-Pacific program in Chatham House, told me. This happens already. Infrastructure projects of debt have broken confidence over opaque contracts that are often skewed in China’s favor. Asia-Pacific involved, which together make up 40% of global economic production. The message sent by America’s withdrawal was heard loud and clear throughout the region. Also read: Taiwan is under siege, but not a shortage of security options, Beijing continued to promote the regional -encompassing economic partnership, a trade treaty that eventually included 15 countries to become the largest world. China has also raised its diplomatic efforts with Indo-Pacific countries and estimated itself as a champion of globalization and free trade. Those who ignore history the risk of repeating it. Economic leadership is crucial in this new world order. Instead of trade wars, regional visits by senior members of the Trump administration, such as the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent trip to the Philippines and Japan. Compared to the visit of XI, it is unlikely that next week’s tour by a US official at the middle level will inspire confidence. Washington must admit that its competition with Beijing is not just about economic power, it is also about strategic influence. Xi plays the long game – and now he seems to win. © Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg -Opinie columnist who covers the politics of Asia with a special focus on China. Catch all the business news, market news, news reports and latest news updates on Live Mint. Download the Mint News app to get daily market updates. More Topics #Donald Trump #Trade War #China Mint Special