Updated on April 17, 2025, 10:30 am he
Bangkok-Chinese President Xi Jinping intensified a rhetoric of unity in the face of protectionism and the shocks of the world order while continuing his tour in Southeast Asia on Thursday in the middle of a tariff war with the United States.
China needs allies after the taxation of 145% prices on its exports to the United States, Washington restrictions on its semiconductors and other trade barriers. The administration of President Donald Trump says that she retaliates because of China’s trade surplus, its synthetic opioid expeditions and restrictions on American investment.
“China was firmly with Cambodia in its just fight against foreign invasion and for national sovereignty and independence,” said Xi in comments published by Cambodia newspapers, including English language Khmer timeBefore his arrival from Malaysia.
“Together, the two countries have shared difficult and smooth times and support themselves regularly if necessary,” said Xi.
Cambodia has had an often hot modern history, marked by intervention by external powers. The country of Southeast Asia was bombed by the United States during the Vietnam War of 1954-1975 and was invaded by Vietnam in 1978, forcing the genocidal regime of Pol Pot which came to power the day after the conflict of the era of the Cold War.
Beijing was the main foreign contributor to Communist Khmer Rouge under the death of three and a half years, a quarter of the population of Cambodia died. The 50th anniversary of taking control of the country’s regime on April 17, 1975 coincides with the visit of XI.
Today, China is the largest investor in Cambodia, building roads, airports and ports. It is also the largest exporter in the kingdom.
The United States fears that China has also set foot in security by supporting the recently finished upgrade of a Cambodian naval base.
The theme of unity in the face of the nameless opponents was a recurring theme in the Xi tour in southeast Asia, which started on Monday on Malaysia in Malaysia on Monday, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed Xi at a welcome dinner on Wednesday.
“Faced with the shocks of world order and economic globalization, China and Malaysia will be held with countries in the region to fight against the undercutors of the geopolitical and camp confrontation, as well as the counter-counders of the Unionarism and Protectionism,” said Xi, without naming the camp which he considered his greatest threat.
XI discussed green technology, artificial intelligence and a rail project of $ 11.2 billion US dollars at a meeting with Malaysian King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar on Wednesday, Chinese press agency Xinhua reported.
China is the largest exporter in Malaysia and the largest investor in the country. The same goes for Vietnam, where XI has signed 45 agreements on areas such as improved supply chains and a rail project.
China worked on a decoupling strategy long before Trump took his second term as American president this year. By 2023, almost two -thirds of its economic growth have been fired by domestic consumption, according to data from the World Bank.
“At the same time, China has continued a more in -depth economic integration with the rest of the world,” according to Lili Yang, secretary general of the International Economic Association.
“The full regional economic partnership, now the largest commercial block in the world, illustrates the pivot of China towards Asia,” she said.
“Beijing has also strengthened the complete economic partnership agreements with (Regional Bloc of Southeast Asia), ASEAN, South Korea and several economies in the Middle East, while negotiating new agreements in Africa and Latin America,” said ING.
“These diversified commercial and investment channels are buffering China from American pressure.”
The nations of Southeast Asia could also help to make the call of America to reduce their trade surpluses and to cease to re-explain Chinese products as their own.
While Trump has declared a decrease of three months to 10% on “reprisal rates” against the nations of Southeast Asia, they face a return to some of the highest American tariffs in the world if commercial discussions fail after these 90 days: 24% for Malaysia, 46% for Vietnam and 49% on Cambodian exports.
UM Sam An, a former Cambodian opposition legislator, warned of Cambodia – which is a major exporter of clothing and shoes in the United States – taking sides in the trade war.
“If Cambodia is associated with China in the trade war against the United States, Cambodia will certainly receive serious sanctions from the United States,” he told RFA Khmer. “Consequently, Cambodia should not take sides and should take an independent position and negotiate with the United States”
RFA Khmer contributed the reports. Published by Tajun Kang, Stephen Wright and Mat Pennington.
Updated with the comments of the Cambodian opposition supporter, adds a background.