Given the current U.S.-China trade war, Beijing has been working to shore up trade relations and “increase cooperation” with Southeast Asian countries. On a tour from April 14 to 18, Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. China’s military has also launched a new round of military diplomacy with Southeast Asian nations:
- From April 16 to 17, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang jointly presided over the 9th China-Vietnam Border Defense Friendship Exchange and held talks.
- On April 21, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun will jointly host the China-Indonesia “2+2” Dialogue Mechanism (Foreign and Defense Ministers) in Beijing, with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.
Sources:
1. People’s Daily, April 18, 2025
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0418/c1011-40463018.html
2. Net Ease, April 18, 2025
https://www.163.com/dy/article/JTERG5KS0553BW85.html