Asean Urged to Forge Middle-Power Partnerships After Xi-Trump Summit Truce

An opinion article in the South China Morning Post emphasizes that Asean nations must progress beyond mere passive hedging and establish middle-power alliances to maintain their independence, following the uneasy truce at the Xi-Trump summit. The piece contends that simply avoiding a decision between the United States and China is inadequate for the regional group. Ongoing competition between Washington and Beijing persists in areas such as technology, industrial policy, security, and international order. While both powers have retreated from the extensive tariff conflict of the previous year, specific restrictions and industrial strategies remain in place. The article presents Asean's task as one of proactive coalition-building amid the ongoing US-China rivalry that is redefining global economic and security frameworks.