Li Qiang's Agenda at the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit: Beating the Tariff War Drums
Chinese leader scheduled for critical ASEAN-Gulf meeting in Malaysia, according to insiders
In late May, Chinese Premier Li Qiang is setting foot in Malaysia for a high-stakes summit with a fresh alliance of Southeast Asian and Arab nations. This gathering, on May 27, comes hot on the heels of the ASEAN Summit, and Beijing hopes to rally these nations to resist US tariffs, following Donald Trump's global tariff offensive on April 2.
United Front Against US Tariffs
China's move to invite ASEAN and GCC nations to the table could be seen as a response to the US tariff measures that Trump unleashed, which were suspended for multiple countries save for China. This new alliance, expected to challenge US trade pressures, is a strategic move to safeguard shared economic interests.
Economic Integration: ASEAN-China FTA and Beyond
The summit also aims to progress the finalization of an ASEAN-China free trade deal, building on recent advancements. China considers ASEAN and GCC countries as vital partners in its Belt and Road Initiative and as essential emerging economies. Beijing is dedicated to fortifying mutually beneficial partnerships and safeguarding the legitimate development rights of all involved parties.
Defending the International Trade Order
Li is expected to place emphasis on China's readiness to protect international fairness and justice, maintain the multilateral trading system, and safeguard the international trade order. The summit will underscore the joint aspiration for open cooperation and win-win outcomes, boosting regional economic resilience against unilateral trade actions.
Strategic Context: Blending Forces, Shifting Diplomacy
This ASEAN-GCC-China group can be seen as a "super-group" aiming to push back against US-led economic isolationist policies. GCC countries, key oil exporters, are important trading partners for China and ASEAN, with GCC accounting for 36% of China's crude oil imports and $298 billion in total commodity trade in 2023. The summit comes on the heels of high-stakes US-China trade talks in Switzerland, setting the stage for further negotiations between the world's two economic giants.
In brief, Li Qiang's ASEAN-GCC-China summit discussions revolve around countering US tariff pressures, economic integration, defending the international trade order, and regional alliance strengthening. Premier Li's agenda represents Beijing's strategic shift towards building coalitions to counter US trade policies and promoting multilateral economic cooperation.
- The ASEAN-GCC-China summit, led by Premier Li Qiang, aims to counter US tariff pressures and form a united front against the previously imposed US tariff measures, as a strategic response to safeguard shared economic interests in East Asia and beyond.
- As part of the summit's discussions, China emphasizes the importance of defending the international trade order, maintaining the multilateral trading system, and protecting the legitimate development rights of all involved parties, including ASEAN and GCC nations, in the context of US-led economic isolationist policies.
