Core Viewpoint - The rise of China presents significant opportunities for Southeast Asian countries, as emphasized by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who advocates for deeper trade relations with China to mitigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs and protectionism [1][3][4]. Group 1: Trade Relations - ASEAN countries are encouraged to enhance trade with China and India to compensate for losses in trade with the U.S. [1][3]. - The trade volume between ASEAN and China exceeded $982.34 billion in 2024, marking a 7.8% increase, with exports growing by 12.0% and imports by 2.0% [3]. - ASEAN's trade with Gulf countries has also strengthened, with the total trade amounting to over $900 billion, nearly double the $453 billion trade with the U.S. [3]. Group 2: Economic Perspectives - Mahathir believes that China's market size surpasses that of the combined U.S. and European markets, indicating continued economic growth potential for China [5]. - He asserts that the U.S. tariffs will harm the American economy more than others, leading to increased living costs in the U.S. [4]. - The historical context of Mahathir's policies, such as the "Look East" policy, reflects a long-term strategy of learning from advanced Asian economies to boost Malaysia's growth [3].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that China's large economic market, resilient industrial chain, and broad application scenarios enable it to withstand external shocks and maintain high-quality growth, making it an attractive destination for investment [1] - China's economic resilience is attributed to three main factors: the enduring and adaptable nature of Chinese civilization, the flexibility and policy elasticity of the Chinese system, and the prudent approach of the Chinese people, which avoids extremism [1] - The global economy is currently facing pressure from the U.S. protectionist policies, which also affect China, particularly through restrictions on advanced computing chips [3] Group 2 - The U.S. government's actions, such as technology blockades and trade wars, aim to limit China's development, but ultimately cannot prevent China's self-reliance and strength [3] - The U.S. has a psychological understanding of China that has evolved from neglect and denial to vilification, and eventually to a forced acceptance of China's high-quality development, leading to a strategy of "if you cannot beat them, then join them" [3] - Potential breakthrough areas for future China-U.S. cooperation include nuclear arms control, reform of the monetary system, and addressing the fentanyl crisis [4]