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US-China relations: the Asian angle

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US-China relations: the Asian angle
As the world's two greatest powers jostle for economic influence, what does the future have in store for Asia?
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent speaks to Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 10. Photo: Handout via Reuters
US-China relations

Outside In | China’s message on trade deals is clear: multilateral is the only way

The choice of the Swiss city of Geneva for US-China negotiations was telling, and the breakthroughs achieved are only the start of a long process.

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United States

Opinion | Thanks to Trump, we now have a profound appreciation of supply chains

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Technology

Opinion | Beware the hubris of an AI narrative centred on the US and China

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US-China trade war

‘Erratic and unpredictable’: US more to blame for trade war than China: report

The majority of business leaders surveyed believe tariffs are a major threat and that the US should be first to de-escalate.

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US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on April 22, 2025, in Washington. Photo: AP
Taiwan economy

Taiwan currency’s surge ‘a warning’ in Asia’s de-dollarisation: analysts

Is the Trump administration’s hostility pushing the region away from a staple of American power?

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US-China trade war

Vietnam is like China 20 years ago – and it’s bringing the two closer together

Vietnam hosts many of the advantages of the mainland’s industrial boom, and Chinese investors have taken note.

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US-China relations

Opinion | Trump’s executive order to boost US deep-sea mining will force China to act

Beijing will continue to sharpen its technological edge, support multilateral governance and may set up maritime joint patrols to monitor the US.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
US-China trade war

China urges Japan, South Korea and Asean to unite amid trade war turbulence

Beijing’s top financial and economic officials want to strengthen regional ties amid US trade war uncertainties.

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Australia

‘Dark shadow’: Australia’s new government to shield it from US-China trade war

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the re-elected Labor government’s first priority will be to address the global economic uncertainty.

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United States

Macroscope | Trump’s tariffs are waking Asia up from the dream of export-led growth

Asian economies responded to Western exhortations to pursue export-led growth. The resulting ‘economic miracle’ now looks like a mistake.

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A protester wearing a Trump mask at a demonstration against the US tariffs policy and to demand South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok resign, in Seoul, South Korea, on April 22. Photo: AP
US-ally trade wars

Asia urged to seek new markets, boost local spending to survive trade war

The head of the Asian Development Bank warns that reliance on exports leaves the region vulnerable to Washington’s high-tariff strategy.

A woman walks past the Asian Development Bank’s headquarters in Manila. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Opinion | As Trump rides roughshod over trade, China is ready to pick up the pieces

China’s message of stable cooperation is resonating as Trump accelerates the birth of a post-US world with rising powers independent of US whims.

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The Philippines

US deploys anti-ship missiles in Philippines amid China tensions

The allies also unleashed a barrage of artillery fire during the Balikatan exercises in a province facing the South China Sea.

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Asean

Opinion | Asean must see US tariff pause for what it is – a trade hostage crisis

By pausing tariffs instead of repealing them, Trump creates the illusion of flexibility while retaining coercive leverage.

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US President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth look on during a cabinet meeting at the White House on April 10 in Washington. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

US has less leverage with China on tariffs than it expects: business advocate

Former US consul general in Shanghai Sean Stein says Beijing too may have underestimated its competitor in assuming US cannot be flexible.

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Amid the tariff war, Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council, says Beijing has “been predicting this day and preparing for this day since at least mid-2018”. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

How the US is reinforcing the ‘first island chain’ to deter China

Strategic bombers, launch platforms and missile systems are being deployed throughout the region in a strong message to Beijing.

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Indonesia

‘Balanced’ ties: Indonesia treads careful path between China and US

This impartial stance could set Jakarta up to be a good mediator between Beijing and Washington, observers say.

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US-China trade war

China’s solar industry explores options as Washington tariffs hit Southeast Asia

Some Chinese manufacturers of photovoltaic products are speeding up their overseas factory deployment, hoping to secure a less-expensive route to the US.

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Washington’s erratic tariff policies have added uncertainties to long-term investment plans in China’s solar industry, according to insiders. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

Philippine provinces torn between US military and China’s economic reach: study

US military hosts Cagayan and Palawan hold opposing views of Beijing because of their economic engagements with China, according to a study.

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US-China trade war

What did China’s Xi Jinping achieve on his trip to Southeast Asia?

Xi was hoping to galvanise support for a united front against US tariffs. Each country had its own response, observer says.

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The Philippines

Philippines, US launch ‘full battle’ Balikatan drills, some near Taiwan

About 17,000 troops will take part in the joint exercises, which include a combined air and missile defence simulation for the first time.

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US and Philippine soldiers salute on Monday during the opening ceremony of the Balikatan joint military drills. Photo: AFP
Japan

Japan in ‘tough neighbourhood’, allies need to stand up to China: US envoy

George Glass also said he was ‘extremely optimistic’ that Washington would strike a deal on tariffs with Tokyo.

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US envoy George Glass and his wife Mary are welcomed by Joseph Young, acting deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Tokyo, upon their arrival at Haneda airport on Friday. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Editorial | Xi’s charm offensive in Southeast Asia is perfect foil to Trump

If trade war results in stronger relations between China and neighbours, it will be an outcome that Trump may have failed to anticipate.

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Xi Jinping

How China is turning to historical narrative to ramp up its border security

As tech advances, definition of border regions and national sovereignty expected to expand to airspace sovereignty and digital frontiers.

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Malaysia

Xi’s visit: Malaysia ‘stands with China’ amid US tariff threat, Anwar says

The two countries signed a raft of deals spanning AI, infrastructure and agriculture as both leaders spoke out in defence of open trade.

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(From left) Chinese President Xi Jinping, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim at a welcome ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippines vows ‘Super Bowl’ of exercises in coming military drills

The exercises will feature ‘an interesting mix of equipment’, including the China-opposed Typhon missile system.

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Philippine Army Brigadier General Michael Logico (left) and US Marine Corps Colonel Doug Krugman during a press briefing for the Balikatan drills at Camp Aguinaldo in Manila on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Chinese factories in Vietnam see ‘crazy’ surge in orders amid US tariff pause

US businesses are putting factories in Vietnam under pressure to front-load as many shipments as possible within the 90-day window.

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Singapore

Singapore braces for US-China trade war fallout with growth outlook downgrade

Is zero growth on the horizon? Singapore now fears its trade-reliant economy might flatline amid US tariffs and the trade war.

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