Reference News Network November 12 report: The U.S. "Washington Post" published an editorial on November 10 titled "A Disheartening Role Shift Is Weakening the United States." Excerpts follow:

Not long ago, at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) informal leaders' meeting, there was a striking image. Chinese President Xi Jinping stood in the center of the stage, smiling confidently among the leaders of various economies. Notably, President Donald Trump was not present.

This image summarized a role shift. Under Trump's leadership, the United States waved the big stick of tariffs at its allies and then demanded more market access and direct investment as conditions for tariff reductions. At the same time, President Xi presented China as a reliable economic partner, committed to multilateralism, predictability, and open trade.

The effectiveness of China's influence is due to significant changes in Asia that have been ongoing for some time, but most Americans have not realized them. In fact, China has become the dominant force in trade and manufacturing in the Asian region, while also making remarkable progress in the cultural field.

China's trade with Southeast Asia amounted to 982 billion U.S. dollars, almost twice the trade volume between the region and the United States. China is also the largest trading partner of Japan and South Korea, the close allies of the United States.

China now dominates many industries and supply chains in Southeast Asia (and increasingly in Central Asia). In Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world, 90% of electric vehicles on the market are made in China. In middle-income countries Thailand and Malaysia, Chinese car manufacturers are reducing the market share of Japanese brands. Now in Southeast Asia, sales of Chinese brand smartphones exceed those of Apple's iPhone. Chinese TV dramas and streaming services are attracting new audiences, especially in Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

As China's footprint continues to expand, America's influence in Asia is shrinking. Since Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement during his first term, the United States has not come up with any regional trade agreement to replace it. However, China filled this vacuum through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. This agreement came into effect in 2022, with 15 member states, including 10 of the 11 ASEAN countries, as well as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

In many Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, people now have a more positive view of China than of the United States. Most Asians see China as the leading economy in the region. A Pew Research Center survey this summer found that 65% of Indonesians have a favorable view of China, while only 48% have a favorable view of the United States. 53% of people believe China will take the right steps in international affairs, compared to only 34% who have such confidence in Trump.

The United States still possesses unusual strength. However, under Trump's "America First" policy that cut foreign aid, the outside world sees the United States as increasingly unreliable. (Translated by Ge Xuele)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7571740612026876435/

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