Beijing’s Push for a Sino-Centric Asia is Cracking Southeast Asia’s Hedging Game

Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s recent visit to three Southeast Asian countries drew widespread headlines — not only for diplomatic pageantry but also for its timing. The visit came on the heels of President Donald Trump’s announcement of a sweeping “reciprocal tariff” policy, which disproportionately affects Southeast Asian economies. Media coverage of Xi’s trip largely focused on Beijing’s attempts to capitalize on Washington’s recent missteps. Mostly undiscussed was the region’s longer-term reality: China has already entrenched itself as the predominant power in Southeast Asia, a region Beijing has long regarded as vital to its political and strategic survival.