After the fanfare, what did China’s Xi Jinping achieve on his trip to Southeast Asia?
Xi was hoping to galvanise support for a united front against US tariffs. Each country had its own response, observer says

But beyond the pomp, the substance of the trip was a message of unity – of the need for countries to stand firm against protectionism amid the uncertainty thrown up by the United States, including by its “reciprocal” tariffs.
Observers said the trip helped to build trust within the region, and underlined the strategic importance in Southeast Asia had for China in countering the US tariffs.
“The main message that was being sent is that China will be the counterbalance to America’s protectionism. While America is not often named, the message is quite clear,” said Dylan Loh, assistant professor of foreign policy at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.