At the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, China clearly signaled its support for open trade and regional economic cooperation. Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need to safeguard East Asia’s peace and stability, uphold free and multilateral trade systems, and reject protectionism—remarks widely seen as a subtle critique of U.S. high-tariff policies. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump signed new trade framework agreements with four countries but avoided meeting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had offered dialogue to ease trade tensions. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reported that his meeting with Trump resulted in more favorable trade terms for Brazil, easing previous tensions. The China-led RCEP bloc, representing nearly 30% of global GDP, called for rapid expansion, while Europe and Japan expressed concern over China’s rare earth export controls affecting global supply chains. China’s message at ASEAN was clear: positioning itself as a global free trade advocate.
At this year’s regional ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, China clearly positioned itself in favor of open trade and regional economic integration. Against the backdrop of the United States’ high-tariff policies, many view this message as a subtle diplomatic signal to Washington.
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