China deepened its strategic footprint by reasserting territorial claims along the China-India border, backing Pakistan militarily during its clash with India, advancing trilateral

Southeast Asian nations held a summit Tuesday with China and six Persian Gulf countries in efforts to expand economic engagement as they grapple with U.S. tariff hikes.

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim said there are “vast opportunities” for closer economic cooperation amid the uncertainties attending the shift in U.S. trade policy.

In his opening remarks, Hegseth warned China seeks no less than hegemony over the region and is increasingly willing to resort to force. He cited confrontations in the South China Sea, including incidents in which China's coast guard used water cannon against Philippine vessels, injuring several people last year.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang rallied a group of Southeast Asian and Gulf states to deepen cooperation and touted his country’s economic strength, as Beijing ramps up its charm offensive abroad to counter US efforts to isolate the economy.

Texts from simultaneous interpretation generated by a large language model for AI interpretation of a Guangxi-based technology company are displayed during an international conference in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Haoming)

China deployed fleets larger than usual near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands and the East and South China Seas.

China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are ramping up efforts to enhance regional economic cooperation and stabilize industrial and supply chains.