US-China trade war: Xi’s goal on tour of Southeast Asia | DW News

Summary

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam has resulted in multiple agreements, including trade deals, amid the ongoing US-China tariff dispute. As China faces heavy tariffs from the US, it seeks to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Experts suggest that while Vietnam aims to balance relations with both China and the US, it remains in a challenging position due to territorial disputes with China. Despite significant agreements, the future of these deals remains uncertain, as they often lack binding commitments. Vietnam continues to navigate the complexities of the US-China trade war while balancing its own economic interests.

Takeaways

• 😀 China's President Xi Jinping signed dozens of agreements with Vietnam during his visit, including trade deals amidst the ongoing tariff dispute with the US.
• 😀 China is currently facing 145% duties imposed by US President Donald Trump, which are pushing China to strengthen its ties with other countries like Vietnam.
• 😀 Political scientist Ian Chong suggests that Beijing is capitalizing on the US's inattention to its allies in Asia, using the trade dispute as an opportunity to build stronger relationships.
• 😀 Vietnam, despite its territorial disputes with China, is trying to maintain a delicate balance in its relations with both the US and China to safeguard its economic interests.
• 😀 Ian Chong believes that the US may view Vietnam's outreach to China as detrimental to its own interests, potentially leading to more pressure on third-party countries.
• 😀 Vietnam faces challenges due to its territorial disputes with China and dependence on rivers originating in China, adding complexity to its diplomatic balancing act.
• 😀 China is aiming to consolidate its influence in Southeast Asia by strengthening ties with countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
• 😀 Political scientist Ian Chong indicates that the US is less engaged in Southeast Asia, allowing China to backfill the economic gap and exert more influence.
• 😀 Chinese state media highlights the signing of more than 40 agreements between China and Vietnam, though many of these are not legally binding and may not lead to significant results.
• 😀 One tangible win for China is Vietnam's agreement to accept Chinese funding for railways connecting the two countries, as well as leasing or potentially purchasing Chinese-made aircraft.
• 😀 Vietnam continues to navigate its relationship with the US, especially regarding tariffs, and the country's manufacturing industry remains heavily dependent on sales to the US and Europe.

Q & A

Why did President Xi Jinping visit Vietnam and what were the key agreements signed?

President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam as part of a broader Southeast Asia trip to strengthen China’s ties with key regional countries. During the visit, over 40 agreements were signed, including trade deals and Chinese investments in infrastructure, such as railways.

How has the US-China tariff dispute impacted China’s foreign relations, particularly with Vietnam?

The US has imposed high tariffs on Chinese goods, which has strained trade relations between the two countries. China, seeking to mitigate this pressure, is attempting to strengthen ties with Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries as part of a broader strategy to diversify its economic partnerships.

What is Vietnam's strategy in balancing its relationships with both the US and China?

Vietnam is adept at balancing its relationships with both the US and China. It seeks to maintain good ties with the US, especially for trade, while also strengthening its economic and diplomatic ties with China. This delicate balancing act is becoming more difficult due to increasing US pressure on countries that engage with China.

What are some of the challenges that Vietnam faces in its relations with China?

Vietnam faces several challenges in its relations with China, including territorial disputes in the South China Sea, as well as environmental concerns related to Chinese dam projects that affect Vietnamese rivers and ecosystems.

How does the US view Vietnam’s growing relationship with China?

The US perceives Vietnam’s strengthening relationship with China as potentially detrimental to its own interests. The Trump administration, in particular, views any closer ties with China as a threat to its geopolitical and economic position in the region.

What did political scientist Ian Chong say about China’s attempts to redraw the map of Southeast Asia?

Ian Chong argued that China is not necessarily trying to push the US out of Southeast Asia, but rather is capitalizing on Washington’s reduced engagement in the region. He suggested that China is filling a vacuum left by the US's shifting focus and offering economic certainty to regional countries.

What is the significance of the 40+ agreements signed between China and Vietnam?

The 40+ agreements signed during Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam, while largely non-binding and often just memorandums of understanding, signify China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia. These include deals for infrastructure projects, like railways, and potential aircraft leases, reflecting China’s strategic investment in the region.

Why are these agreements between China and Vietnam considered to be largely symbolic?

These agreements are often considered symbolic because they are frequently not legally binding. In many cases, they do not result in immediate or concrete actions and may not be fully implemented, as similar deals in the past have been more about political signaling than tangible outcomes.

How is Vietnam’s manufacturing industry linked to its diplomatic relations with China and the US?

Vietnam’s manufacturing industry is heavily reliant on exports to the US and Europe, rather than China. This economic dependence on Western markets complicates its diplomatic balancing act, as it cannot afford to sever ties with the US, despite growing economic relations with China.

What does China’s response to the trade war, particularly through tariffs and rare earth export restrictions, indicate about its strategy?

China’s response, including imposing tariffs and restricting rare earth exports to the US, demonstrates its willingness to use economic leverage as part of its broader strategy to challenge the US in the trade war. However, it also shows that China still seeks to negotiate and settle the dispute, even while taking hardball measures.