China’s Xi continues charm offensive in SouthEast Asia

After Vietnam, China’s president Xi Jinping arrived in Malaysia.  Unlike Vietnam which trades more with the United States than with China, Malaysia has kept China as its top trading partner for 16 years. During the visit, Xi is also expected to discuss a free trade agreement between China and ASEAN, as Malaysia is currently chair of the regional bloc. Meanwhile, Beijing has reportedly ordered its largest airlines to halt further deliveries of Boeing jets as a trade war with the US escalates.