Preliminary
ASEAN is the abbreviation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. As of 2025, ASEAN has 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The following is a further interpretation of the relevant content mentioned above:
Trump and the ASEAN Summit
- According to Political News Network on October 7, 2025, Trump was willing to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia from October 26 to 28, but put forward two prerequisites: first, to have him preside over the ceremony at the summit to host the peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, and second, to exclude Chinese officials from the ceremony. October 8, South China Morning Post's subsidiary, Asia This Week, said that the White House pressured the Malaysian government to try to ensure that the focus was on Trump and mitigated China's efforts to mediate the Taiwan dispute.
- The Trump administration regards diplomacy as a deal and is trying to turn the ASEAN summit into a personal stage this time. The "diplomatic results" it claims to showcase cannot withstand scrutiny. Although the Thai-Cambodian conflict has temporarily eased, the root cause of the problem has not been resolved. Trump participated in some coordination work in the later stages of the conflict, but this is more the result of long-term efforts by many countries and institutions.
The Trump Administration’s Policy and Impact on ASEAN
Trump’s “isolationism” claims a limited “constriction” effect in terms of political security.His Asia-Pacific allies and partners such as Japan, Australia and Singapore have actively pushed the Trump administration to continue its alliance policies, which former government officials have also suggested that the United States retain or strengthen its dominant role in the Asia-Pacific alliance system.
-Republican right-wing think tanks such as the American Enterprise Institute and the American Heritage Foundation oppose the weakening of the investment in rebalancing strategy by the United States, and suggest that the United States continue its strategy of checks and balances, maintain its military superiority, and maintain a strong alliance system to contain potential opponents and maintain its prestige.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has emphasized the importance of alliance relations and multilateral mechanisms, noting that the Trump administration will strengthen U.S. leadership in the world, the alliance system is a key advantage inining its leadership, but also criticized U.S. allies for not taking full responsibility inining peace and security, and was unfair to the U.S. and other allies who fulfill their commitments.
Trump stressed that the United States should choose the multilateral mechanism in East Asia from the perspective of its own interests and prevent allies from flying, but he also recognized that the multilateral mechanism in East Asia plays an important role in tackling terrorism and maritime security, and the United States will not give up participation.
Cooperation between China and ASEAN
- China and ASEAN haveined close cooperation relations, and the two sides have extensive cooperation in many fields such as economy, trade, culture, etc. China has been the largest trading partner of ASEAN for many years in a row, the volume of trade between the two sides is growing and plays an important role in the process of regional economic integration.
-In the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, China actively mediated in the interests of the two countries, facilitated the informal meeting of the three parties and the tea talk between the foreign ministers of China, Thailand and Cambodia, finalized the "peace consensus", and provided pragmatic measures such as mine clearance equipment and technical support, which made important contributions to easing the conflict.
Comparison of influence in ASEAN
-US side: Trump tried to woo ASEAN to join China's scientific and technological containment through this summit, but his routine of "tariff threat + small investment commitment" did not receive a positive response from ASEAN countries. For example, the United States asked Malaysia to reduce its rare earth exports to China in exchange for tariff exemption on its palm oil, but the Malaysian Prime Minister declined.
- China: China adheres to the goal of "digital economy and industrial upgrading" and attracts ASEAN countries through equal, mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation. Different from the unilateralism and bullying behavior of the United States, China respects the sovereignty and interests of ASEAN countries and is committed to achieving common development and prosperity. This cooperation model is more in line with the needs and interests of ASEAN countries, so China's influence in the ASEAN region continues to increase.