Will Southeast Asia Tilt Toward China?

Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects honour guards during a welcoming ceremony at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Vincent Thian / POOL / AFP)

President Xi Jinping is trying to present China as a more stable, reliable partner than the United States during his ongoing three-nation, week-long tour of Southeast Asia.

The presumption here is that as the United States becomes more erratic and less dependable, China will benefit as more countries in this strategically vital region lean more on Beijing in the future.

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by Eric Olander

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