Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, beginning with a visit to Vietnam, where he emphasized that “no one wins in a trade war”—a clear reference to escalating tensions with the United States. Following his stop in Hanoi, Xi is scheduled to visit Malaysia and Cambodia from April 15 to 18, marking his first visits to these countries in over a decade.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his trade war with China by imposing 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. Although the Biden administration had temporarily paused some tariffs on electronics, Trump has warned that these exemptions are short-lived and plans to reclassify products like smartphones and laptops under future tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that new sector-specific tariffs on semiconductors and other electronics are forthcoming within two months.
In response, China has imposed retaliatory tariffs of 125% on U.S. goods and suspended exports of critical minerals essential to industries like defense and semiconductors. Xi’s Southeast Asia tour aims to strengthen regional ties and present China as a stable partner amid the ongoing trade tensions.
