from Haoyu Zhang in Beijing, China
Special Correspondent
BEIJING, (CAJ News) – AS the United States President Donald Trump’s tariff-driven trade wars continue to cast a shadow over global commerce, China is taking a dramatically different path — one defined by cooperation, inclusion, and sustainable growth.
Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has emerged as a steady champion of free trade and multilateralism.
In stark contrast to Washington’s isolationist stance, Beijing has been busy forging new and deeper economic partnerships across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and even with several of America’s traditional allies.
The latest milestone came with the upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — a strategic accord that elevates economic cooperation among more than two billion people and strengthens $771 billion in bilateral trade.
The enhanced deal includes progressive commitments in digital trade, green technologies, and supply-chain resilience, signaling the region’s ambition to future-proof its economic architecture.
Global analysts view this as a masterstroke for China’s diplomacy — and a clear repudiation of Trump’s tariff policies, which have strained the very alliances Washington once relied upon.
“While the U.S. builds walls with tariffs, China builds bridges with trade,” one economic analyst observed online. “Power is shifting quietly — deal by deal.”
Trump’s so-called “America First” policy, which introduced punitive tariffs on imports from China, Europe, and North America, was intended to revive domestic manufacturing.
Instead, it triggered inflationary pressures, supply-chain disruptions, and retaliatory tariffs that hurt American farmers and consumers alike.
Meanwhile, China’s pragmatic, partnership-driven approach has expanded its reach in regions hungry for investment and stability.
Observers note that Beijing’s long-term trade vision — embodied in initiatives like the Belt and Road and its growing portfolio of free trade agreements — reflects a deeper understanding of globalization’s interdependence.
“Trump’s trade wars divided markets,” said international commentator Wouter Vreugdenhil, “but China’s strategy is binding them closer together. The U.S. may have isolated itself into irrelevance, while China now leads the world’s most dynamic trade networks.”
The upgraded China-ASEAN FTA also reinforces regional resilience amid shifting global dynamics.
“This agreement is a geopolitical and economic pivot,” said Shen Shiwei, a Beijing-based analyst. “It quietly redefines Asia’s trade routes and economic influence while ensuring mutual growth across the region.”
As the U.S. grapples with trade fragmentation and declining global influence, Beijing’s message is one of mutual prosperity, predictability, and openness.
Through diplomacy rather than division, China has positioned itself as a stabilizing force in an increasingly uncertain global economy.
While Trump’s tariffs-built barriers, China continues to build partnerships — strengthening the very global trading system that remains the foundation of shared progress.
– CAJ News