China’s President Xi Jinping is in Malaysia, as part of a Southeast Asian tour—visiting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia—as Beijing seeks to shore up ties with the region, amid escalating trade tensions with Washington. With Southeast Asia caught in the middle of the world’s two largest economies, President Xi’s visit takes on heightened geopolitical and economic significance. What does it signal about China’s intentions in the region—and with the US watching closely, how might it shape Malaysia’s standing with both superpowers? On #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Dr Lam Choong Wah, Senior Lecturer at UM’s Department of International and Strategic Studies.
