Congratulations may have poured into Beijing from its Southeast Asian neighbours in recent days following the passing of a landmark United States bill granting permanent trade privileges to the mainland. However, privately some see it as a double-edged sword.
On the upside, warming economic relations between two of the world's superpowers should be good for peace and prosperity in the Pacific.
'Better jaw-jaw than war-war,' said Singapore trade minister George Yeo Yong Boon, quoting Britain's wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, on hearing the news.
Mainland liberalisation should also provide new investment opportunities on the mainland for Southeast Asian firms, as it edges towards entering the World Trade Organisation.
On the downside, there are fears the mainland's huge potential, cheap labour and appetite for capital could prove over-bearing.
Its southern neighbours are concerned it could monopolise foreign investment that might otherwise have been destined for the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).