China's Leader Ends Southeast Asia Tour That Touted Beijing's Reliability

Xi Emphasized Strengthening Ties Amid Global Economic Uncertainties & the Backdrop of Trade Tensions With the USA

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday completed a two-day state visit to Cambodia, capping a three-nation Southeast Asia tour promoting Beijing's reliability as the region faces economic uncertainty due to US President Donald Trump's tariff proposals.

China has been strongly increasing its influence in the region over the past decade, largely by exercising its substantial economic leverage. Beijing is now presenting itself as a source of stability and certainty as Trump's tariffs threaten the region's export-oriented economies whose largest market is generally the United States.

Cambodia faces among the highest reciprocal tariff rates proposed by Washington. In addition to Trump's universal 10 percent tariff, it faces the threat of a 49 percent tariff on exports to the USA once his 90-day pause expires. For Vietnam, the tariff would be 46 percent, and for Malaysia, 24 percent.