Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Monday ( Apr 14 ) that a trade war would have” no winners” and that protectionism would lead nowhere, according to state media, as he was scheduled to begin a tour of Southeast Asia with a trip to Vietnam. As Beijing seeks to strengthenContinue Reading
Singapore does play a role in another region, education. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of student permits granted to Chinese immigrants in the US has decreased 50 %. Singapore is well-positioned to provide an option.
An English-speaking culture, protection from bigoted violence, and the chance to get an education that ties East and West are benefits that can be taken advantage of. The introduction of students from Taiwan and mainland China may help to bolster friendship and knowledge. They’ll preferably help to end the Chinese Civil War’s legacy through their friendships.
Home dynamics exist between China and Taiwan. Just the Chinese you build a negotiation.  ,
Singapore serves as a neutral location for sessions of government officials and politicians on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, such as the Nov. 7 conference between China’s President Xi Jinping and Taiwan’s Ma Ying-jeou. Singapore would be the place to start calm diplomacy if Beijing and Taipei are to come to terms.
Most nations do not want to be forced to support themselves in the current US-China conflict. In the most recent State of Southeast Asia poll conducted by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, 31.4 % of Singapore respondents believed ASEAN does not support China or the US. 46.7 % of respondents to the survey chose to strengthen ASEAN unity in order to withstand pressure from the two major powers.
Being negative does not imply being quiet. In a more frequent shouting match, a natural, subtle voice is essential.
Singaporean students and businesspeople may be viewed with suspicion because of their ferocious cultural ties to China. Because of uninformed politicians ‘ biases, business and political ties may suffer. Friendship does not guarantee a person’s protection.
A clever understanding of the situation is necessary for the mousedeer in the middle of the battle between the animals in order to avoid being beaten, either intentionally or unintentionally. The pillars of a nation’s life are regional cohesion and resilience.
Singaporeans must maintain calm and bring on offering that balanced nuanced perspective, to use a term from an earlier era.
Between 1998 and 2006, Professor Walter Woon served as Singapore’s adviser to Germany, the European Union, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, and the Vatican. He is now the Lee Kong Chian Visiting Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University’s Yong Pung How School of Law, Senior Consultant and Non-Executive Chairman of RHTLaw Asia, and Society for International Law Singapore’s Chairman.
Experts advise the government to act cautiously rather than retaliate against the United States ‘ reciprocal tax steps.
Thailand, one of the nations currently lining up to deal with the US for a potential price reduction, is one of the many nations that has been hit by a 36 % reciprocal tariff.
No particular place in the dialogue process has been revealed as of yet, despite the government’s claim that Washington has responded to Bangkok’s demand for negotiations.
An impartial political and economic researcher named Somjai Phagaphasvivat called on the government to come up with a tactical and measured response.
According to him, the federal appears to be putting its weight on its own violent business plan, and he claimed that this is a wait-and-see strategy.
President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 90-day wait in higher tariffs on several nations, including Thailand, is a sign that the US may be reevaluating the effects of its business measures, he said.
A nation you choose four strategic responses to tariff increases: plan and work quickly, as Vietnam and Cambodia have done, fight instantly, as China has, make and wait for clarity, and wait for the US to feel the effects of its own measures.
But, whether import taxes may be reduced or raised yet further remains to be seen. Thailand may find itself at a disadvantage, the researcher said, if the expensive tariffs are gradually implemented.
” The US imposes various tax prices on various nations. Our exports may suffer significantly if our companies have now negotiated lower taxes while we have not,” he said.
Prudence, no retaliation
When asked whether Mr. Somjai’s response to the US’s trade policy signaled the start of a full-fledged international trade war, he responded with caution.
He claimed that the condition has not reached the height of a world trade war, a repeat of the 1929 Great Depression, or a serious global economic downturn that is being discussed.
It took two years to resolve the problems, which involved a 90 % decline in stock markets at the time.
It was followed by World War II and the formation of the International Trade Organization in 1944, which later evolved into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade ( GATT ) to regulate international trade.
He claimed that the US is engaging in a traditional” chicken game” where nations with low liquidity are more likely to succumb to US industry stress. However, it’s unlikely that major players like China and the European Union ( EU) will give in.
China, which is currently at a 125 % rate, will respond with higher taxes, he said, sending a clear message that if the conflict persists, both sides will suffer.
The US leader is also putting more home pressure on himself. In only three days, US markets lost US$ 9.5 trillion, or roughly quarter of GDP. Mr. Trump won’t fall off the cliff, which may prompt negotiations, according to Mr. Somjai.
Beijing imposed tariff increases on US imports last Friday to 125 %.
Asean is a lightly bound system and is unlikely to challenge the US, according to Mr. Somjai, who questioned whether Asean would work together and discuss with the US as a whole, especially when Mr. Trump threatened to escalate sanctions against nations that would criticize him.
Following a movie conference meeting of financial officials, Asean, which is the fifth-largest economy in the world, expressed profound concern over the US’s decision to introduce punitive taxes.
Cambodia is subject to a 49 % duty and Singapore is subject to a 10 % tax in Southeast Asia.
Asean should use this chance to strengthen assistance, not to issue the US, but to be prepared to deal with international changes brought on by the US’s fresh price policy, according to Mr. Somjai.
To Thai exporters, Mr. Somjai said there is no need to fret yet because the economy is expanding at a slower rate, with growth potential slipping from 3 % to 1 % this year.
” As long as the economy turns bad, it isn’t also a full-blown problems.” In the worst case situation, there would be a battle between the US and the EU. A full-fledged international trade conflict is still unavoidable at this point, he said.
Mr. Somjai argued that Thailand may be prepared to deal with an economic slowdown regardless of how the US trade policy develops.
He also noted that nations who are closely aligned with the US are likely to follow other strategies, such as extending free trade agreements to lessen their rely on the American market.
Thailand’s trade surplus with the US was thought to be worth more than$ 40 billion last year.
Punitive steps, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, are not the best course of action because Thailand is a small nation and could suffer from a GDP drop of at least one percentage point.
Somjai:” Don’t issue the US.”
Opportunities exist in a turmoil.
The Thailand Development Research Institute’s senior research fellow Nonarit Bisonyabut cited the position as a chance to promote development.
He claimed that the US’ worries about taxes are not totally unfounded. He advised Thailand to examine the justification for the distinguished tax rates it had in place and whether they had acted in a certain way.
Some were intended to safeguard important sectors for national growth. However, he said,” we must ask whether they are only generating revenue for significant capital groups.”
Additionally, Mr. Nonarit urged a review of “zero-dollar imports” and to consider whether or not these permissions should be discontinued. Exports of zero-dollar goods refer to business practices that the exporting nation finds to be having little or no monetary benefit.
He argued that the government should consider alternatives to the US’s present actions because the mutual tariff is only the first step in addressing trade imbalances.
The US is also trying to persuade businesses to return their products to the US to address the nation’s debt problems.
” There will be more goes to come,” she said. We merely saw an appetiser, he said.
Mr. Nonarit argued that the Trump administration wants to alter the world trade order.
The US’s extreme legislation is unlikely to be abandoned anytime soon, and the more dangerous the situation becomes the sooner it surrenders. The US tax policy may have a negative impact on domestic demand, as high inflation would also be felt by American consumers.
People force is anticipated to rise in this situation for the reversal of the plan.
The US senator also faces legal challenges in the Supreme Court, he added, noting that there is a chance for policy change to occur without external force in six months to two years.
He argued that Thailand may lose more by trying to communicate and get offers, noting that Singapore’s strategy is also viewed as a strategy for asking the people to prepare for impacts.
” Some offers we make may be challenging to accept again. Often, we have to wait and see because Thailand is a small nation or doesn’t have little leverage to derive significant benefits from the discussions, he said.
Nonarit:” More moves to occur.
Myanmar’s independence is also affected by China’s mediation, according to Yun. She noted that this is” no unprovoked,” as the conflict’s effects have been felt close to their land borders.
She noted that “you have often heard the Chinese say that we don’t want to be involved in Burmese national independence or internal matters.”
” But your internal affairs become my domestic affairs when your inner affairs cause the bombing of Chinese place or the arrival of 30, 000 refugees into China.” And that, regrettably, provides China with a valid explanation for playing a controlling role.
For local reservations may have a negative impact on Southeast Asia’s perception of China as its ongoing international mediation effort progresses, something Beijing is probably aware of.
According to analysts, South Asian countries acknowledge China as a significant economic companion while also upholding a recorded approach to its wider local engagement, including its role in promoting stability.
They add that some countries might find themselves in a difficult location as a result.
Malaysia was cited as an example by Abdul Rahman of the Lowy Institute. Malaysia has carefully balance the economic benefits with its security concerns, he said, as China has been its largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.
According to Abdul Rahman,” China is seen as a potential financial mate.”
” Nevertheless, top Malaysian government officials believe that Western powers are essential for controlling against China.”
According to what I’ve said to various Indonesian officers,” I think it might be harder for the Malaysians to get a harder line if China asserts itself on the ground against Malaysia in the waters off Sabah and Sarawak.”
In any case, researchers predict that Southeast Asian nations will function as best they may with Beijing and Washington, especially with a rising China here to stay and vying with the US for influence in the region.
For instance, Dorsey from RSIS noted how Malaysia and Indonesia are less reliant on the US for security issues.
They still want the US to keep a reputation, though. They don’t need Washington to completely withdraw, he said, though they may prefer it to be abroad.
” I’m saying that the majority of countries, including those in Southeast Asia, will make this a linear selection,” I’m saying.
According to the State of Southeast Asia 2025 report, the US chose China to win over the region’s interests ( 52.3 % ) if they were forced to support them.
China’s share of the market dropped to 47.7 % from the previous year’s top of 50.5 percent, which was its primary top choice.
A majority of ASEAN respondents ( 53.2 % ) agree that the regional bloc should increase its resilience and cohesion to fend off pressure from the two world powers.
Nearly 30 % of respondents were concerned that ASEAN may turn into a center for regional power negotiations, with its member states potential main strength proxies.
China’s popularity will depend in part on its ability to address local concerns and develop real partnerships, according to Ping from Bond University.
If China doesn’t correlate its actions with local expectations, there may be more backlash.
Beijing will begin a five-day, three-nation Southeast Asian tour on Monday ( Apr 14 ) as Beijing attempts to bolster regional trade ties and lessen the impact of the massive tariffs his US counterpart Donald Trump has imposed. In his first international trip of the year, Xi will travel toContinue Reading
From Monday through Friday ( Apr 14 to 18 ), Chinese President Xi Jinping will make state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
To Lam, the common director of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and Luong Cuong, Vietnam’s leader, invite Xi to visit Vietnam on April 14 and 15.
According to a statement from the Chinese foreign government, he may then travel to Malaysia and Cambodia on April 15 and 18, according to a report from the official Xinhua news agency.  ,
His three-country trip of Southeast Asia comes as the world’s trade conflict with the United States worsens, and he pledges to “appropriately” manage differences and improve supply chain ties with neighbors. He made this pledge this week to strengthen corporate ties with neighboring countries.
China announced on Friday ( Apr 11 ) that it would increase tariffs on US goods to 125 per cent effective on Saturday.  ,
Its response to Washington  included a rise in levies on some Chinese imports to 145 percent, an increase from 104 percent, as well as announcing a 90-day delay on “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly all of the world’s largest trading partners.
The US had imposed reciprocal tariffs of 49 % on Cambodia, 46 % on Vietnam, and 24 % on Malaysia.
Analysts claim that Xi’s journey is intended to strengthen local ties while also strengthening Beijing’s status as a reliable monetary partner.  ,
After the 10-member bloc’s economic ministers met on April 10th, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) declared it would not implement retaliatory measures in response to US tariffs.  ,
According to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose state is chairing ASEAN this year, US President Donald Trump’s “hardened approach” against China in the price war poses” a problem” for Asian nations as it will have an impact on their economies.
ASEAN people need to maintain strong and formidable relationships with their neighbors, including China, while maintaining solid diplomatic and economic ties with the US, he said.
He acknowledged that maintaining this balance and ASEAN’s importance, especially with Xi’s future visit, would be a “major problem.”
Some spectators, in comparison, see potential for China.
Chris Pereira, the founder and CEO of effect, a connections and business consulting firm, is one of them.
He told CNA,” If the US is going to start imposing tariffs on people, this is a great option for China to visit for free industry with everyone.”
” Even China will continue to support rules-based purchase rather than the United States.”
Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam and Cambodia benefited from the” China Plus One” method, which absorbed redirected manufacturing as businesses diversified away from China during the previous business war.
However, with innovative US regulations intended to close gaps, that benefit is shrinking.
According to EAI’s Li, China may reduce the pressure on both itself and the place by actively reorganizing supply chains rather than just shifting exports.  ,
It is more likely to win the support of ASEAN elites and policymakers if China rather takes the lead and encourages a more diverse and healthy global market.
This may encourage the development of emerging markets by allowing them to occupy a larger share of the market.
As these markets expand, Li predicted that there will also be more demand for Chinese goods, creating a “virtuous pattern of common benefit.”
Interestingly, this approach is less likely to have a direct effect on the US market, making it a more strategic and long-term course of action.
Pereira, the effects leader, agreed with a disclaimer.
He remarked that China should be very cautious about shifting developing capabilities and capacities to other nations.  ,
Often, it might elicit a sense of injustice in different areas, including Southeast Asia.
According to the ISEAS record, distrust in six of the ten ASEAN countries outweighs trust in China.  ,
47.6 % of those who dislike China worry that its military and economic dominance had threaten their nations ‘ interests and independence.  ,
As tensions continue to rage in the South China Sea as many countries ‘ regional and maritime disputes resurface.  ,
Despite overlapping states by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, China claims about the whole South China Sea.
These conflict centers on corporate waters rich in both important natural resources and important trade routes, which have been the subject of current maneuvers that have increased the conflict further.
After the United States imposed a 14,5 percent tax on all Chinese products on April 9, China has pledged to” find common ground and drop differences” with its Asian neighbors. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi Jinping did make state trips to three Southeast Asian nations on April 14 to April 18: Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
In light of the strongly escalating trade war with the United States, this show of interest is not surprising. Some Chinese manufacturers claim to have suffered significant losses as a result of US tariffs on social media.
Some Chinese manufacturers abandoned their products mid-voyage to the US, largely by surrendering pots to shipping businesses, according to a report from The South China Morning Post on April 9 to avoid tariffs. They would have had to give a 145 % tax to the US Customs, which would mean that their income would not be sufficient to cover the price if they had never done so. They still had to pay their vendors even after they dumped their goods.
On to one of Beijing’s key components: Xinhua published three stories each highlighting China’s long-term friendships with Southeast Asian nations on Friday ( April 11 ).
( That last essay does not mention that Sihanouk endorsed the Mao Zedong-supported Khmer Rouge in 1970, which was encouraged by China, and that they would later carry out the Thai genocide of 1975-1979.)
China announced on Friday that it would increase tariffs on American goods from 84 % to 125 %, which is in line with what the Trump administration had previously announced on Thursday. Nevertheless, the White House made it clear that if the previous 20 % taxes applied to fentanyl trafficking are taken into account, the tax imposed on Chinese products is now 145 %.
Beijing will” just overlook” any further price increases from the US in the upcoming if Washington “persists with its price number games,” according to the Chinese State Council’s Customs Tariff Commission.
In the history of world economy, it continued,” Even if the US continues to raise taxes, it would have no economic impact.”
China’s General Administration of Customs reported that last year, it imported$ 62 billion of British goods, accounting for roughly 6 % of the region’s total goods of$ 2.7 trillion. 875, 700, 21 million plenty of beans, 2.07 million tons of maize, and 9.64 million tons of crude oil are among these products. Additionally, China imported electronics and aircraft from the US.
Some observers claimed that China may obtain goods like helicopters from Malaysia and Singapore, electronics from Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, and food from Brazil, Argentina, and India. These nations properly concentrate more on Chinese clients while American manufacturers get some.
The main problem is how Chinese manufacturers is rapidly restock their stock and adapt to the new surroundings.
The Hong Kong Shippers ‘ Council’s Chairman, Willy Lin, warned that customers will have legal problems and possible damage claims against manufacturers who dump supplies during transit.
On April 10, Caixin reported that some Chinese manufacturers canceled or delayed their supplies to the US. Backordered containers are accumulating in Shanghai’s Yangshan and Waigaoqiao ports, waiting for exporters to get their products or move their destinations.
A Chinese producer reported to the SCMP that its shipments to the US decreased from 40-50 vessels per day to 3-6 pots as a result of the implementation of US tariffs.
A Zhejiang shoe manufacturer reported on social media that her company’s net profit decreased from 400,000 yuan in 2023 to 100,000 yuan in 2013. She claimed a customer ordered one million yuan ($ 137, 311 ) of socks last year but did not pick them up. She claimed she didn’t give rent for 60, 000 yuan because she has no customers this year.  ,
A manufacturer of clothing claimed the market for clothing was still undersupplied a few weeks ago, but his company is now unable to buy all of its goods. A Yiwu hat manufacturer claimed he could still export his goods to the US if the tariff was 20-30 %, but he now has no advantage because the tariff is more than 100 %.
Manufacturers delayed their supplies to the US because they were unsure whether the US tariffs would continue to rise during the shipment, which typically takes two months, according to a YouTuber from Shanghai. He claimed that Taiwanese exporters and National customers can compromise on tariff payments and resume shipment if US tariffs stabilize afterwards.
After Trump imposed a 104 % tax on Chinese products on April 9, many US customers, including Amazon, apparently stopped or canceled their orders.
According to a study by Central China Securities, the US “reciprocal taxes” will slow China’s economic growth in the short work, but China also has a chance to produce some technological and textile goods over the long run. China likely will start using stimuli to boost domestic consumption and digest empty products, according to the statement.
Returning to Xi’s journey and all of that friendship: In recent years, tensions between China and Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, have gotten worse as a result of the South China Sea conflict.
Additionally, downstream areas of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam were impacted by the damming of the Mekong ( Lancang ) River for hydropower.
Xi gave a significant conversation at a crucial event in Beijing on job related to neighboring countries on April 8 and 9 of this year.
Xi, who is also the head of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China ( CPC ) and the head of the Central Military Commission,  , advocated for creating a community with a shared future with neighboring nations and attempted to break new ground for China’s neighborhood work.
China will preserve the principles of harmony, cohesion, openness, and inclusion, make use of the high-quality Belt and Road assistance as the principal platform, and work toward an Asian security model that emphasizes sharing wealth and suffering, finding common ground while shelving differences, and placing emphasis on dialogue and consultation, according to Xi.
China’s relationships with its relatives have been at their best since the start of the 20th century, he continued. The “global South’s shared rise has become a key factor in promoting multilateral development.”
China will actively promote cooperation within the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, East Asia Cooperation, APEC, and the Asia-Pacific Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures ( CICA ). It will launch the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, Lancang-Mekong Summit, host the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations ( CDAC ), establish multi-level and cross-field cooperation platforms, and work with neighboring nations to put forth true multilateralism.
Read: As Trump’s 50 % deadline approaches, China-led anti-US tax alliance is rumbling.
SINGAPORE: Wildlife issues and difficulties for seniors in accessing digital support vouchers were among the challenges raised by Pulau Ubin residents, as a team from the ruling People’s Action Party ( PAP ) visited the island on Friday ( Apr 11 ).
The island, with about 30 registered residents, was redrawn into the boundaries of the new Pasir Ris-Changi Group Representation Constituency ( GRC ) in the latest review of the country’s electoral map.  ,
A PAP force consisting of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health Janil Puthucheary, Mr Sharael Taha and fresh mouth Valerie Lee, spent about an hour and a half speaking to people it, accompanied by about 15 group participants.
Speaking to the media after the attend, Ms Lee said the group “had a great time actually understanding the concerns of the people living it”.
” Top of the line will definitely be a little animals difficulties, which is why we sort of emphasize that we will work very closely with ( the National Parks Board ) in the future to truly help fix that”, said the head of corporate politics for Singapore and Southeast Asia at Sembcorp Industries.
” Of course, on the island there’s a lot of elderlies that we will continue to really support”, she said, adding that the team got their contact numbers so that they could directly assist them moving forward.
Some of the challenges faced by the mostly senior demographic of the island included redeeming government support vouchers, such as the Climate Vouchers, said Ms Lee.
However, Lin claimed that ASEAN nations would need to expand their export markets if negotiations with the US don’t lead to meaningful price reductions.  ,
She noted that many are already doing this, with China still serving as a crucial companion, particularly for nations like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, which have a limited US business exposure.  ,
But, whether these nations ‘ imports are in line with Chinese need depends on their ability to become more economically aligned with China.  ,
The EU, India, the Gulf States, and deeper intra-ASEAN industry, in Lin’s opinion, are essential choices.  ,
She said that it will be crucial to improve the regional comprehensive economic partnership’s (RCEP ) implementation and exploring new free trade agreements to reduce risk of unilateral protectionist actions.  ,
China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand are all parties to the RCEP, which is a free trade agreement.  ,
But, political expert Oh Ei Sun claimed that ASEAN will have to look for different markets to deal with because the US will continue to be one of the biggest exporters of East Asian products, including semiconductors and solar products.
” ASEAN is currently conducting business with numerous different nations. These nations just doesn’t fit the high level of American consumption, Oh said.  ,
Lin argued that ASEAN may continue to invest in regional economic integration, strengthening domestic supply chains, harmonising regulations, and enhancing its desirability as a diverse and resilient manufacturing base in order to lessen the impact of US tariffs.  ,
She claimed that while a WTO issue is theoretically possible, it is also less useful in the long run due to the length of the WTO’s dispute resolution process.  ,
Specific member states have the right to complain about other members, but ASEAN as an organization does not have the legal position to do so.  ,
Lin argued that ASEAN should instead concentrate on developing strategic partnerships, improving business facilitation, and using tools like the Washington, DC, ASEAN Committee to communicate to US policymakers in a planned manner.
The key would of course be to maintain coherence, agility, and forward-thinking in such a tumultuous business culture, she said.  ,
Ferlito claimed that the most advantageous course of action right now is to actively pursue true free trade agreements with all interested parties. He explained that these contracts enable tariff-free deal between the participating countries.
That is the best course of action if we want to grow, to listen, and to make more growth opportunities, which come from bigger marketplaces, and this comes from free business.
” The earth is integrated, and seeking self-reliance is utopic and not the best course of action. Economic development is achieved by looking outside rather than inside. Therefore, having solid economics means being integrated rather than isolated,” he said.  ,
However, analysts cautioned that if the US and China’s continued price war turns into a full-fledged trade war, it could have significant effects on the ASEAN region.
Because a majority of ASEAN states rely on Chinese industry and Taiwanese money, that is a much more dangerous problem. ASEAN had undoubtedly suffer as collateral damage if the US-China relationships collapse,” Chin predicted.  ,
Amir Yusof provided extra monitoring.