Xi says China stands with South-east Asia to counter ‘unilateralism’, amid US tariffs
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China’s President Xi Jinping shaking hands with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim after witnessing an agreement exchange ceremony, at the prime minister’s official residence in Putrajaya.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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KUALA LUMPUR – Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to join hands with Malaysia and the broader South-east Asian region in resisting “unilateralism and protectionism” – in a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump’s imposition of sweeping tariffs.
Speaking at a welcome dinner on the second day of his state visit
“In the face of global shocks and challenges to economic globalisation, China and Malaysia will stand together with regional countries to counter the tide of geopolitical rivalry and bloc-based confrontation, as well as the backlash of unilateralism and protectionism,” the Chinese President said.
His remarks were echoed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who praised China’s outward-looking approach, contrasting it with what he described as inward-focused rivalry seen elsewhere.
“In some quarters, the rules-based order has been turned on its head – dialogue has yielded to demands, tariffs are imposed without restraint, and the language of cooperation is drowned out by threats and coercion.
“What we are witnessing today is not an honest reckoning with the imperfections of globalisation, but a retreat into economic tribalism. Market access is being weaponised. What was once a multilateral covenant for shared growth now buckles under the weight of arbitrary disruption and unilateral whim,” Datuk Seri Anwar said in remarks delivered before Mr Xi.
He recognised China as a “rational, strong, and reliable partner” amid the global uncertainty posed by US tariffs.
Mr Xi’s three-day visit to Malaysia comes just days after the US President abruptly announced a 90-day pause
Before the halt on April 9, Mr Trump hit several export-oriented South-east Asian economies with some of the highest tariffs. He slapped a 49 per cent rate on Cambodia, while Vietnam and Malaysia faced duties of 46 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively.
Malaysia is the second stop on the Chinese leader’s whirlwind South-east Asian tour – which has already taken him to Vietnam
China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009, with bilateral trade reaching RM484.12 billion (S$144.5 billion) in 2024 – accounting for 16.8 per cent of Malaysia’s total global trade.
Meanwhile, the 10-nation Asean group recorded US$980 billion (S$1.28 trillion) in trade with China in 2024. The two sides have remained each other’s top trading partners since 2020.
As the current chair of Asean, Malaysia remains committed to promoting free trade and staying open to investment, while firmly maintaining Asean centrality amid rising geopolitical tensions, Mr Anwar said.
“We should not, and do not need to, be constrained by any side. So far, we have refused to succumb to such pressure. Our position is clear: We cooperate with those who treat us with respect,” Mr Anwar said in a joint interview with China Global Television Network and Malaysia’s Astro Awani that was aired on April 16.
He also reaffirmed Malaysia’s steady relationship with China, emphasising that the country has never experienced coercion or pressure from Beijing.
“Although China is a major power with a strong economy and formidable military strength, we have never felt any sense of trouble or pressure from it.”
Mr Xi also had a meeting with Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, earlier on April 16, at which he said China supports Malaysia in its role as Asean chair in 2025.
Meanwhile, Dr Lam Choong Wah, a senior lecturer from the University of Malaya’s department of international and strategic studies, said Mr Anwar’s dinner speech signals the difficulties Washington faces in distancing China from its neighbours in the region.
“The US-initiated tariff war hasn’t won the allies it hoped for – instead, it has alienated others. Malaysia, which has long maintained a neutral stance and pursued a hedging foreign policy, is now leaning towards China,” he told The Straits Times.
But Dr Lam cautioned that Kuala Lumpur’s closer alignment with Beijing may increase the risk of more reciprocal tariffs once the Trump administration’s 90-day pause ends.
He noted that the 31 memorandums of understanding and cooperation signed by Malaysia and China on April 16 – covering joint foreign and defence, as well as collaboration in global development, global security and global civilisation initiatives, among others – have significantly deepened bilateral ties between the two countries.
Malaysia and China celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2024. This is the Chinese leader’s second visit to Malaysia since he assumed office in 2013, and follows Mr Anwar’s visit to Beijing in November 2024.
“Essentially, Malaysia is moving into China’s orbit. It’s a non-binding but near-ally type partnership,” Dr Lam added.
China’s three global initiatives, launched between 2021 and 2023, represent a strategic vision for multipolarity, offering an alternative to the US-led global order through cooperation, respect for sovereignty and inclusive governance.
Mr Lee Chean Chung, chairman of the Centre of Regional Strategic Studies, a Kuala Lumpur-based think-tank, stressed that Malaysia continues to uphold Asean centrality by actively engaging both Washington in the Asean-US summit and Beijing in the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting, likely later in the year.
“Malaysia remains committed to the principle of regional autonomy, which lies at the heart of Asean’s mission as a regional alliance,” the parliamentary backbencher told ST.
The concept of Asean centrality refers to the regional grouping being in the driver’s seat and shaping key outcomes affecting South-east Asia, instead of having the region’s fortunes determined by external parties.
