Is it true that US President Trump has spoken to President Xi Jinping? There are conflicting statements on this, but it is not the main point.
The key issue is whether America and China can reach an agreement on trade. If they can't, who will suffer the most?
Based on various reports, if we analyze the situation from a neutral perspective, using Asean as an example, many countries do not want to lose favour with either China or the United States.
However, if they ultimately have to make a choice, they are likely to lean towards America.
The main reason is that many of their products are exported to the United States. For instance, Vietnam and Malaysia's primary export markets are the United States, and many American products are essential for these countries. Besides high-tech chips and electronic products, they also need commercial aircraft, military supplies, and weapons. Recently, when China refused to accept Boeing aircraft due to trade issues, Malaysian and Indian airlines immediately expressed their willingness to accept them. This shows that if Asean countries are forced to choose between China and America, the latter may be in a favorable position.
Moreover, it is important to note that in the later stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, most countries globally followed the systems of Europe and America, gradually reopening after quickly vaccinating their populations.
Ultimately, China was among the last to reopen, which significantly impacted its economy.
Therefore, if the US-China trade war drags on and other countries gradually align with the United States, China may repeat the mistakes it made during the pandemic. This is a situation that China needs to handle carefully.
Andrew Wong is a veteran independent commentator
