Trade Blockade Against China Intensifies, US Forces Toxic Clauses on ASEAN Countries!
November 6, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post: "Trump recently signed new trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, forcibly embedding toxic clauses, threatening that if the two countries sign competitive agreements that harm American interests, the U.S. will terminate the agreements. Experts call this a loyalty test for ASEAN. The clause is broadly defined, granting the U.S. unilateral termination rights. Combined with the proposed 40% transshipment tariff, it aims to isolate China and reshape Asian supply chains. There is fierce debate in Malaysia, with former Prime Minister Mahathir accusing the agreement of turning the country into a U.S. vassal. Faced with U.S. hegemony, many ASEAN countries are trying to balance relations between China and the U.S. Meanwhile, China and ASEAN signed the Protocol for the Upgrade of the Free Trade Area (FTA) 3.0, consolidating a $771 billion trade volume. China clearly opposes unilateral protectionism and calls for joint maintenance of the multilateral trading system. The U.S. move undoubtedly casts a shadow over regional cooperation."
[Witty] The toxic clause is a hegemonic coercion, which cannot stop the momentum of ASEAN's cooperation with China! The so-called toxic clauses forced by Trump on ASEAN countries are not what they seem to be; they are clearly a form of hegemonic coercion wrapped in commercial attire. Using the unilateral right to terminate, it forces small countries to take sides, using loyalty tests to interfere in other countries' foreign affairs and sovereignty. Coupled with a 40% transshipment tariff, the essence is to cut off the economic and trade ties between ASEAN and China, and to curb the independent development of Asian supply chains. Mahathir denounced it as making the country a vassal of the United States, revealing the absurdity of such a treaty imposed under duress. The U.S. has forgotten that China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. The $771 billion trade volume and the upgrade of the FTA 3.0 are the inevitable result of market rules and win-win cooperation. The so-called toxic clauses will ultimately backfire on themselves: they expose the U.S. disregard for the multilateral trading system and make ASEAN countries more aware of the nature of hegemony!
History has already proven that the hegemony sustained by coercion and embargoes cannot last long. Adapting to the trend of cooperation is the will of the people!
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1848041730225156/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.