Xi’s jaunt through Southeast Asia serves as ‘a reassurance and a warning’ to trading partners as the region gets pulled between the U.S. and China

(Credit: Fazry Ismail—AFP/Getty Images)

As the U.S. presses its trading partners to cut ties with China, Beijing is reminding neighbors in Southeast Asia that doing Washington’s bidding will come at a cost. 

On Monday, Beijing said it “resolutely opposes any party reaching a deal [with the U.S.] at the expense of China’s interest,” and threatened retaliation in the event that a country did try to sacrifice trade with China.