The ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, held on May 27, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, brought together leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to bolster economic resilience amid global volatility and U.S. tariff threats. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the importance of stronger ASEAN-GCC ties to enhance interregional collaboration and secure sustainable prosperity, with the GCC being ASEAN’s seventh-largest trade partner, recording $130.7 billion in trade in 2023. The summit, the first of its kind, aimed to diversify trade links and counter the impact of U.S. tariffs, which range from 10% to 49% and have hit ASEAN nations hard, prompting Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam to negotiate with Washington after a 90-day tariff pause announced in April 2025.
China’s participation underscores its growing influence in Southeast Asia, positioning itself as a reliable economic partner despite tensions over South China Sea claims, where ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have disputes with Beijing. The GCC, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, brings significant financial resources from oil and gas revenues, potentially fueling investments in ASEAN’s technology and AI sectors. Analysts suggest this tripartite partnership could lead to infrastructure and digital cooperation under China’s Belt and Road framework, though ASEAN’s neutrality is tested as it balances ties with China and U.S. defense support. Critics, like Collins Chong Yew Keat from Universiti Malaya, warn that ASEAN’s increasing reliance on China could deepen Beijing’s regional presence if U.S. engagement wanes under the Trump administration.