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China Defies U.S. Pressure, Strengthens Southeast Asia Alliances

4/23/2025

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Left

China Resists Isolation

China is pushing back against U.S. pressure to isolate it, cautioning trading partners that seeking exemptions only deepens the divide. Amid rising tariffs, President Xi Jinping is positioning China as a trustworthy ally in Southeast Asia, even as worries about military assertiveness and economic coercion loom large.

Center

Vance and Modi Negotiate

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in pivotal discussions in New Delhi on April 21, 2025, focusing on a Bilateral Trade Agreement. Their meeting underscored notable advancements in trade negotiations, with finalized guidelines aimed at bolstering India-U.S. ties amidst rising tariff concerns.

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China Resists Isolation

China is pushing back against U.S. pressure to isolate it, cautioning trading partners that seeking exemptions only deepens the divide. Amid rising tariffs, President Xi Jinping is positioning China as a trustworthy ally in Southeast Asia, even as worries about military assertiveness and economic coercion loom large.

1 / 2