US Former President Donald Trump has lashed out at Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ongoing tour of Southeast Asia, claiming that the trip is meant to discredit the United States amid increasing trade tensions. Xi kicked off his five-day visit to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia this week, soon after the US slapped China with steep import duties on its products.
Addressing at the White House, Trump asserted the conferences among China and its Southeast Asian neighbors could be venues to plan against the US. “It’s a beautiful meeting. Maybe negotiating on how to screw the United States,” Trump said. Although he was having a tough, combative tone, he continued, “I don’t blame China or Vietnam.”
The most recent tariff hike saw Trump impose a 145% effective rate on imports from China, which led to Beijing retaliating with 125% tariffs on US goods. The trade conflict shook global markets, and in response, the US relaxed tariffs to 10% for the majority of nations except China while providing a 90-day window of opportunity for negotiations.
Xi’s visit to Vietnam followed remarks from Vietnamese President To Lam calling for stronger bilateral trade. Xi responded by emphasizing the need for unity against “unilateral bullying,” seen as a reference to Washington’s recent actions. He also signed around 45 cooperation agreements in Vietnam, focusing on supply chains and connectivity.
Vietnam, a major manufacturing center for US imports, is said to be looking to reduce Trump-era tariffs, with a commitment to restrict diverted Chinese goods mislabeled as Vietnamese. The US has previously accused Hanoi of facilitating such activities in order to circumvent tariffs.
In Malaysia, Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz also showed frustration at what he described as unfair calculations of tariffs, but said Malaysia would not take sides between China and the US.
Analysts suggest Xi’s personal outreach is a strategic move to present China as a stable partner amid rising uncertainty in US foreign policy.
