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China Boosts Southeast Asia Ties But Trump Alienates Them

Trump has alienated trading partners creating an opening for Xi.

Xi Hailed by Malaysia PM

Bloomberg reports Xi Hailed by Malaysia PM as China Boosts Southeast Asia Ties

Malaysia’s prime minister heaped praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to the country as both leaders pledged stronger trade ties to combat rising global protectionism triggered by US tariffs.

The two leaders signed 31 cooperation agreements ranging from artificial intelligence to mutual visa exemptions and global security on Wednesday in Putrajaya. At a dinner following the signing ceremony, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called Xi a steady leader in a time of global upheaval.

“In these trying times, the world yearns for steadiness, reliability and purpose,” Anwar said. “We see this in China’s conduct. Malaysia acknowledges such steadiness with quiet recognition and is conscious not only of the calm it has brought, but of the hope it may continue to offer.”

Malaysia is the second stop in Xi’s three-nation trip to Southeast Asia, which included Vietnam earlier this week and Cambodia from Thursday. Xi is seeking to bolster ties with export-reliant Southeast Asian economies rattled by President Donald Trump’s intensifying trade war. Many are trying to strike their own deals with Washington to counter the threat of economically devastating tariffs, while also maintaining strong ties with China, the region’s biggest trading partner.

Xi met with the nation’s king, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, earlier Wednesday, saying Beijing welcomes more Malaysian agricultural goods and called for both countries to advance major projects like the East Coast Rail Link, according to Xinhua. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy and green development.

“We admire your tenacity, and for that Malaysians welcome you, President Xi, not only as president of a great country, the People’s Republic of China, but as a true friend tested,” said Anwar.

Ahead of his arrival in Malaysia on Tuesday, the Chinese leader said he sees his trip as an opportunity to further deepen bilateral ties and bolster political mutual trust.

After Trump imposed steep tariffs on China during his first term in office, Malaysia and other nations in Southeast Asia became key routes for Chinese exports to reach the US. Now, Washington is pressuring them to cut off that lucrative business channel or face crippling US levies.

Anwar on Wednesday slammed those developments, without naming the US.

“What we are witnessing today is not an honest reckoning with the imperfections of globalization, but a retreat into economic tribalism,” Anwar said at the state dinner to honor Xi. “Market access is being weaponized. What was once a multilateral covenant for shared growth now buckles under the weight of arbitrary disruption and unilateral whim.

Anwar pledged to remain an “unwavering and principled friend” to China, saying that the country had remained a rational, strong and reliable partner through turbulent times.

China Will Stand With Malaysia

2024 Asia Goods Trade Balance

The US trade balance with Malaysia is -25 billion, Indonesia is -18 billion, Vietnam is -123 billion, Taiwan is -74 billion, Japan is -68 billion, India is -46 billion, and China is -295 billion.

Vietnam is overstated and China understated due to tariff avoidance maneuvers that made imports from China look like they were from Vietnam, Mexico, or other countries.

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April 15, 2025: A Trade War Debate, Who Has the Cards, the US or China?

Let’s discuss a pair of articles from ZeroHedge and Politico.

Deals announced so far: China 1, Malaysia 1, US 0.

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73 Comments
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Oldest Most Voted
Doug78
Doug78
1 year ago

Little problem of the South China Sea that China claims as its own and has built islands and military installations on the ones it could get there hands on. That will not go away. China’s pretentions on the Indian border will not disappear either.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug78

They stand a better chance of succeeding as the US pulls back and isolates itself.

Michael Engel
Michael Engel
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

The PRC creed: get Taiwan, rule with an iron fist and revenge after the humiliations and the civil war during the Qing dynasty. Winning without firing a shot that’s what China wants: a domino collapse of:Japan, Taiwan, S Korea. N,Z, Australia and the Philippines, under Trump. That’s what col McD recommended: roll back our bases. Results: the US might add more territories in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Turkey is a rising mini empire.

Last edited 1 year ago by Michael Engel
PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago

So many stories on the impact of Trump tariffs.

Trump is cancelling an agreement with Mexico on tomato imports that has been in effect since 1996. Expect tomato prices to go up.

The US imports 96% of the canola oil used for french fry cooking from Canada. We also import half of the fries from Canada. Tariffs are about to raise the cost of fries.

Albert
Albert
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

It’s not just the prices of tomatoes and French fries. Some people speculate that the suicide rate among small US business owners will be up this year due to the tariffs.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  Albert

That would be very sad indeed. Many small businesses are getting crushed by Trump. Not just those in goods; but also those in travel, tourism and services.

Laura
Laura
1 year ago

Mish – Hope you are home from the hospital and wishing you a speedy recovery. Glad you were persistent in finding a Dr. to find out what was wrong.

Michael Engel
Michael Engel
1 year ago
Reply to  Laura

The CT test: nothing is wrong !

Michael Engel
Michael Engel
1 year ago

Get well. Swim like Leon Marchant 1:1 while sitting on your sofa. One min (or two) breaststroke (or freestyle) and one min rest. Repeat 3/10 times. Shoulder pain can be caused by neck C 4/5 contraction, backbone problems, or from your ankles.Talk to: Eileen Kopsaftis: Have Lifelong Wellbeing !
Cross your hands on your chest. lean back, lift your chest, stretch your abs.
Inhale 4 sec. Exhale 8 sec with with a woush . Rest 4 sec. Hydrate.

Last edited 1 year ago by Michael Engel
Michael Engel
Michael Engel
1 year ago
Reply to  Michael Engel

After the high, dopamine plunge below the baseline. The 4 stents were a shock. It might have caused a neuroplasticity change – a change in your brain – that can lift u above the baseline. Even people in the 70’s/80’s can change their brains.

Patrick
Patrick
1 year ago

Devolution of thread. Neo liberal psychosis or Chairman Mao satanism. Orange Man Bad my butt hurts! Come at me commies …

Patrick
Patrick
1 year ago

1979 discussion between Vietnam and China. Who invaded? Who was bitch slapped?

KGB
KGB
1 year ago
Reply to  Patrick

China invaded. China got bitch slapped. There is no love lost between China and Viet Nam. Nor between China and any Chinese neighbor. Now China is on its knees and begging for help. The closest friend China has is Venezuela.

Michael Engel
Michael Engel
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

yes.

Patrick
Patrick
1 year ago

China is the neighborhood bully. No one likes them, no one wants to get punched in face.

Michael Engel
Michael Engel
1 year ago
Reply to  Patrick

yes.

IRISH
IRISH
1 year ago

trump is a bully and failure. he just wants to force other countries to his will. diplomacy is a foreign concept to the POS.

Peace
Peace
1 year ago

Very happy to see you again.
Hope you’re out of hospital and getting well.
Heart stent people live long.
Keep going.

Jean
Jean
1 year ago

Many of us knew Trump was a mess, but the country voted for him anyway. So enjoy what’s coming.

Jojo
Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  Jean

The vast majority of people approach politics the same as they do religion. They hear/take the parts they agree with or like and ignore the rest.

With Trump, many heard “deport illegal immigrants”, “reduce food prices” and “cut excess government spending”.

So far, Team Trump is making some progress on #1, failing bigly on #2 and making a royal mess of #3.

There is a phrase applicable to what Trump is doing. It’s called “Unintended consequences”.

IRISH
IRISH
1 year ago
Reply to  Jojo

good comparison to religion. however he has failed big time on all 3. its not feasible to try to deport illegal immigrants. all he has done is create vigilante ideas in the minds of his cult.

Pokercat
Pokercat
1 year ago
Reply to  Jojo

The other phrase describing Trump’s actions is called “mentally unstable”.

Michael Engel
Michael Engel
1 year ago
Reply to  Jojo

Religion is the best tool to rule the people. In the US chaos, created by the 100Y dems and their puke media, rules the US, became a new religion. After Biden they fell from their horse, in the racetrack, on their heads ==> neuroplasticity made them very angry. They plunged under the baseline. They are depressed and hopeless.

Last edited 1 year ago by Michael Engel
IRISH
IRISH
1 year ago
Reply to  Jean

actually no one voted . he was paid to be selected.

Anon1970
Anon1970
1 year ago
Reply to  Jean

As far as I was concerned, Trump was the lesser of two evils in 2024.

It is too bad that the first Trump administration did not prosecute the neo-cons who encouraged the Maidan Revolution back in 2014. When Biden moved into the White House in 2021, he brought back some of the neo-cons who had left at the beginning of Trump’s first term. The following year, Putin invaded Ukraine in a preemptive strike. As bad as things look for some Americans these days, they are infinitely worse for the people of Ukraine.

I’m back robbyrob
I’m back robbyrob
1 year ago

China is suffering its own ‘China shock’Labour-intensive manufacturing is vanishing and millions of jobs could be lost, with repercussions for stability and growth https://archive.is/GMoVZ#selection-1571.0-1577.123

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago

This is the creative destruction that has been going on for the last few hundred years. Cheap labor gives your business/country an advantage for a while. Then wages rise and automation starts to creep in. Eventually, some production moves to lower wage countries. And the process repeats.

Rather than trying to go back in time to a period of low wages, the way forward is new industries, where you can create a competitive advantage.

This is China’s goal. They will let low wages industries fade away as they move forward in new areas.

Which is why China leads the world in producing solar panels, electronics, evs, rare earths, etc.

Xi is taking China into the future while Trump is trying to take the US back in time.

Jojo
Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

And the process repeats.”

Until everywhere is automated with costs to manufacture the same everywhere. But billions of unemployed [former] workers who will need food provided by robots/AI..

When everywhere is the same everywhere, then there will be no need for national borders, politics or different languages.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  Jojo

We have been automating things for 500 years. Yet in all that time, more jobs were created than lost. Just different jobs.

Over 95% of people used to work on farms. Today it’s less than 2%. Because we automated things. But there are more jobs than ever before.

Jhrodd
Jhrodd
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

That was back when they grew food on farms. Now they grow government subsidies and tax breaks.

IRISH
IRISH
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

where?

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  IRISH

Everywhere.

Ten thousand years ago there were 1 million humans. The only “job” was hunter gatherer and staying alive.

Then we developed agriculture, which became then main job for thousands of years. A stable food supply allowed us the free time to innovate and automate and we began to develop some new jobs. World population grew to 1 billion by 1800. And there were hundreds and hundreds of new jobs.

Which is when automation really took off. Today we have tens of thousands of different types of jobs. And close to 4 billion people employed.

Automation helps to create jobs.

Jojo
Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

That was then, this is now.

There will be less and less need for human workers going forward. This is happening from two directions at once.

AI assistance is reducing the need for white-collar workers at the high end. Google has stated that 25% of its coding work is now being done by AI’s. Salesforce has held back on hiring sales support and engineers due to the use of AI. Many other companies are doing similar to varying degrees.

Then, on the blue-collar side, humanoid robot deployment is set to advance significantly this year (or perhaps was but will be held up a bit do to the dislocations caused by Trump).

People are going to wake up one morning and suddenly recognize that everything has changed.

No matter what anyone says, the old economic model of more people working at more jobs and paying more taxes is on the death bed.

This transition is going result in massive unemployment and worldwide deflation.

Eventually, a single AI will control the world, national borders and governments will have been eliminated, robots will do almost all work and everything will be provided to the remaining humans for free.

The question is, how many humans will be allowed to “remain”?

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  Jojo

Nope. That argument has been repeated for hundreds of years. It has never been true. It will not be true this time either.

bmcc
bmcc
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

correct papa. and 10,000 years ago, human primates started to farm and animal husbandry. made life more settled and easier than hunting and gathering. though hunting and gathering in bountiful parts of earth is quite easy. read graeber’s books, dawn of everthing, and bullshit jobs, a theory. his book debt, 5000 years history of money is great too. see what was the first currency. hint. human primates children.

Jojo
Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

The past is no indication of future events.

Don’t feel bad. I don’t expect non-technical people to understand what is going on in the AI world now.

IRISH
IRISH
1 year ago
Reply to  Jojo

with robots taking jobs no need for humans ehh?

Jojo
Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  IRISH

We could do with a lot less humans,, especially those who are incapable of contributing to the advancement of knowledge or society.

AI’s will see this. They would be smart to reduce, at a minimum, those on the margins who require any kind of state or special support.

But OTOH, there is the possibility of a future as represented in the SF book series called the Culture.

Q. How would you summarize the role of AI’s and the state of human existence as depicted in the books of SF author Iain M. Banks?

Iain M. Banks’ Culture series presents a unique and nuanced portrayal of artificial intelligence and human existence in a far-future setting. Here’s an analysis of the role of AIs and the state of human existence in the Culture novels:

## The Culture’s AI-Governed Society

– The Culture is a post-scarcity, socialist utopia spanning the Milky Way galaxy, primarily governed by hyper-intelligent AIs called Minds[1][3].

– Minds control most aspects of the Culture’s infrastructure, including massive orbital habitats, ships, and planetary systems.

– Unlike many dystopian AI scenarios, the Minds are generally benevolent and work to benefit organic beings, including humans[2].

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/how-would-you-summarize-the-ro-4yb.2eAOSsKlCZNikh0cqA#1

IRISH
IRISH
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

trump is stagnating and causing collapse.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  IRISH

Yes. He is. But that does not change the fact that 500 years of automation has created thousands of new types of jobs.

Jojo
Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

But a large number of those new jobs are being automated. [lol]

“Wake up and smell the coffee”
–Ann Landers

KGB
KGB
1 year ago

One third of Chinese industry got shut this week. With EU coming aboard one half of Chinese industry will shut. All because China does not play nice. Chairman Xi decided to hold his breath and turn blue, scream, and pound the floor. If he doesn’t learn to behave the Chinese will kill him.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

Lol! You just pull numbers out of your ass! And make sh*t up. At least you’re good for a laugh now and then.

And while Trump was busy golfing, Xi was busy signing new trade deals with other countries in Southeast Asia. Expanding China’s trade.

Meanwhile,Trump has been begging Xi to call for two weeks now. And Xi won’t. He is probably enjoying this.

KGB
KGB
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

It’s called a horseback estimate. ~30% of Chinese exports went to USA and ~20% to Europe. Try getting a job in Guangdong City.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

More like a horse sh*t estimate! Lol!

Only 12.5% of Chinese exports go to the US.

Try using some real numbers rather than making them up all the time.

What a moron!

Doug78
Doug78
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

Margin size matters more than volume. Microeconomics 101.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug78

And Trump’s tariffs are raising costs and crushing margins for US businesses. Brilliant.

Doug78
Doug78
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

Only those stupid enough to manufacture in China and import back or those that just import and sell. The writing has been on the wall for a long while now. Trump just accelerated it a bit.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug78

Correct. As wages and living standards have risen in China, low wage jobs are migrating to other countries like Vietnam and other Asian countries. Trump’s high tariffs on China will accelerate this natural process.

However, Trump thinks that these low wage jobs of sewing socks and making toys will come back to America. Maybe you are stupid enough to believe that as well.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug78

You forget that Trump’s tariffs are on everyone; not just China.

Tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, uranium, potash, etc. US businesses are being disadvantaged by Trump’s tariffs. He is achieving the opposite of what he wants. And you are cheering him on! Lol!

Incisivosaurus
Incisivosaurus
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

Dude, Guangdong is a province….

Doug78
Doug78
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

Xi needs new customers. He needs a lot of them so he is doing a handshake tour. Transshipment is on his mind and not local trade.

KGB
KGB
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug78

China is surrounded by enemies it has made in Asia. His handshake tour failed. EU also refuses to take Chinese imports. China can sell shoes to barefoot Africans.

Incisivosaurus
Incisivosaurus
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

Really? And you know that his tour failed from your couch half a world away? Stop believing those crap that the mainstream media feeds you.
Better still spend a bit of money and travel the world a bit.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug78

Everyone wants new customers. Including US businesses. Yet Trump’s tariffs make them less competitive.

Doug78
Doug78
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

Europe is not taking in the Chinese surplus and will not. They have already made that clear. Many industrial companies in Europe have been burned by China and they recognize the danger. They have been saying it publicly and frequently ever since Trump’s tariffs have been put in place. The EU leadership got the message and pretty much dropped the flirt with China.

John Overington
John Overington
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug78

Such a superficial view. Europe’s defense bill is paid by the US. What the US says, goes. Public statements be damned.

IRISH
IRISH
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

did lie social tell you that BS?

Incisivosaurus
Incisivosaurus
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

LOL! Delusional at best.
But could probably consider using these jokes to moonlight as a standup comedian.

Incisivosaurus
Incisivosaurus
1 year ago

Guess that comment was based on decades old perception of what China was. China has largely moved on and away from this labor-intensive manufacturing for a relatively long time now, while most of the Americans and Europeans are still slumbering. While there are still smaller Chinese companies producing more labor-based goods, even those are pretty automated in many ways now. Most of the labor-intensive manufacturing are now operating in countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Cambodia.

Albert
Albert
1 year ago

Xi is rebuilding the global trading system, with the US sidelined as a pariah. Next he will probably show up in Brussels. Who knew Trump’s real aim was: Make China Great Again!

Jojo
Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  Albert

Someone should make a hat with that on it and hand it to Trump!

Doug78
Doug78
1 year ago
Reply to  Albert

Europe doesn’t want China in more than they are already.

Incisivosaurus
Incisivosaurus
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug78

Not if you are from here in Europe … they actually want Trump out more than they want China.

Tony Frank
Tony Frank
1 year ago

Trump will likely meet his match with China.

Augustine
Augustine
1 year ago
Reply to  Tony Frank

Trump is no match for China.

Pokercat
Pokercat
1 year ago
Reply to  Augustine

Trump is not a match for anyone he is a mentally ill, incompetent, wreck of a human and that is really stretching the term human.

KGB
KGB
1 year ago

Southeast Asia can balance trade or not trade.

PapaDave
PapaDave
1 year ago
Reply to  KGB

Lol! You like to talk tough. But it just shows what an idiot you are.

Southeast Asia will continue to trade with China and with everyone else in the world because it is in their best interest to keep trading with everyone. They would like to keep trading with the US as well, but won’t if Trump makes it impossible to do so.

They also know that Trump will be gone soon. Xi will be around for a long time.

bmcc
bmcc
1 year ago
Reply to  PapaDave

ZION don has made US like israel. a pariah state hated by rest of world. nice job for a moron. his voters are morons. democracy works perfectly. why it is so dangerous to let morons vote.

Jojo
Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  bmcc

why it is so dangerous to let morons vote.”

And post….

bmcc
bmcc
1 year ago
Reply to  Jojo

so dangerous to post. i’m scared.

Pokercat
Pokercat
1 year ago
Reply to  bmcc

All elected officials in the US are given extraordinary privileges creating benefits that common American’s will never have. When elected officials speak their speech should be considered “under oath” and any lies should be subject to perjury charges and imprisonment.

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