May 30, 2025

In April 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping conducted a five-day diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, visiting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia from April 14 to 18. The strategically timed visit, Xi’s first overseas trip of the year, occurred amid escalating trade tensions driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on over 70 countries, including China and the three nations Xi visited. The tour aimed to reinforce China’s economic and diplomatic influence in the region, counter U.S. trade policies, and solidify partnerships within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Feb 14, 2025

Donald Trump’s return to the White House puts the Indo-Pacific at the center of U.S. foreign policy, but restoring American dominance won’t be easy. While his first term laid the groundwork for a strategic shift, China’s expanding economic and military influence has only grown stronger. To compete, Trump must recalibrate U.S. engagement—strengthening military alliances, reviving economic initiatives, and leveraging technological advantages—before Beijing cements its leadership in the region.