ASEAN Launches Summit With China And Gulf Nations Amid U.S. Tariff Concerns

Tone & Political Bias: Center-Leaning

Why: The article presents perspectives from all involved regions—ASEAN, China, the Gulf, and the U.S.—without editorializing or favoring any geopolitical side.

ASEAN-GCC-China Summit Kicks Off In Kuala Lumpur

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) opened a trilateral summit on Tuesday with China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Kuala Lumpur. The summit comes as ASEAN seeks to strengthen its economic partnerships amid global instability and threats of new tariffs from the United States.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who leads ASEAN as this year’s chair, said the meeting is essential for building economic resilience and sustainable prosperity. This is the first three-way summit between ASEAN, China, and the GCC.

Regional Leaders Emphasize Economic Cooperation

Anwar highlighted the importance of enhancing ASEAN-GCC ties, describing them as a pathway to long-term regional collaboration. “I believe the ASEAN-GCC partnership has never been more important than it is today, as we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape marked by economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges,” he said during the summit's opening.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang joined the event to reaffirm China’s growing role in Southeast Asia. China has sought to present itself as a stable and reliable partner to ASEAN countries, many of whom face internal and external political pressures.

GCC Seeks Deeper Regional Ties

Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah said the Gulf bloc aims to deepen cooperation with ASEAN and improve joint crisis response capabilities. He added that the GCC is already ASEAN’s seventh-largest trade partner, with trade volumes reaching $130.7 billion in 2023.

The GCC includes six major oil-producing nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Anwar noted earlier that while the GCC maintains strong links with the United States, it also wants closer ties with China.

U.S. Tariff Policy Pressures ASEAN

The summit takes place against a backdrop of trade tensions with the United States. President Donald Trump had announced wide-ranging tariffs that hit six ASEAN nations hardest, with rates between 32% and 49%.

In April, Trump implemented a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries. This month, a temporary deal was also reached with China, slightly easing trade tensions. Anwar is now calling for a special ASEAN summit with Trump to directly address the tariffs issue.

ASEAN Navigates Neutral Diplomacy

ASEAN has long maintained a policy of neutrality, carefully balancing its relationships with both the U.S. and China. However, analysts suggest the bloc is now increasingly seen as tilting toward China.

Foreign affairs analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat of Universiti Malaya stated that ASEAN has been slow to confront China’s assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea, where China has overlapping maritime claims with ASEAN members like Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Chong warned that ASEAN's deepening reliance on China could push the United States further away from the region. “If this continues under the current Trump administration, it will create further room for Washington to distance itself from the region, which will spell disaster and create an even deeper Chinese presence,” he said.

A High-Stakes Moment For ASEAN

This summit represents a critical juncture for ASEAN as it balances growing Chinese engagement, U.S. economic pressure, and the pursuit of stronger ties with energy-rich Gulf states. The region’s leaders are under increasing pressure to maintain stability while securing long-term growth through diversified partnerships.