At the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged ASEAN partners to “jointly support free trade and the multilateral trading system, oppose all forms of protectionism, and further advance the process of regional economic integration”, warning that the recent rise in tariffs threatens to erode East Asia’s economic trajectory.
In remarks published on the website of China’s State Council on Tuesday, he appealed to leaders to “fully protect East Asia’s hard-won peace and stability,” emphasizing dialogue over coercion and policy coherence over ad hoc barriers.
Mr. Li placed his call within the region’s track record of rapid growth, asserting that “the East Asian miracle is not a story of the past, but one that continues to unfold,” pledging to “strengthen coordination on development strategies,” deepen supply chain resilience, and expand cooperation in finance, innovation, EVs, and clean energy.
The truth behind it was clear. Unilateral tariffs and the politicization of trade risk destroying the momentum that determined East Asia’s rise.
The agenda for the summit reflected the escalating tensions between the United States and China. The US government yesterday advanced a series of agreements with Southeast Asian partners, including non-tariff barriers and concessions on high-profile purchases, as uncertainty remains over semiconductor tariffs and the threat of sectoral taxes.
Regional analysts have warned that such measures could burden exporters and disrupt supply chains, while also encouraging ASEAN countries to diversify by expanding beyond the United States, a trend Mr. Lee seeks to accelerate through opening up and integration.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump continues to tour the region. After his stay in Japan, he is scheduled to visit South Korea, where his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attract worldwide attention.