Locked in a trade war, China and United States try to rally support in Asia
- Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang and Mike Pence make the regional rounds as their countries compete for influence
China and the United States are competing in a new round of diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific this week, as leaders from the world’s two biggest economies try to rally support at key international meetings.
With Beijing battling slowing growth and the fallout from a trade war with the US, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang landed in Singapore on Monday for a five-day visit that will include the annual summit for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Chinese President Xi Jinping will also attend the Apec summit at Papua New Guinea later in the week, followed by a visit to the Philippines and Brunei, while US Vice–President Mike Pence has embarked on a weeklong visit to Japan, Singapore, Australia and Papua New Guinea, where he is expected to expand on the US’ Indo-Pacific vision. Pence’s trip, which started on Sunday, is his third to Asia since taking office in January 2017.
Li’s arrival in Singapore coincided with the publication of an opinion piece in The Straits Times in which he spoke out against protectionism.
“Openness must be upheld as it is not just a means to an end, but a tenet in its own right, which will be more firmly embraced through tests and trials,” he wrote.
“China has opened its door to the world; we will never close it but open it even wider.”
Late last week, Pence took indirect aim at China and sought to reassure America’s allies in Asia that Washington was committed to the region.