China establishes power triangle to reshape globe

(MENAFN) A major geopolitical shift is underway following a landmark summit held in Kuala Lumpur during the final week of May. For the first time, China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened to establish a formal trilateral cooperation mechanism—a development with significant implications for Asia and beyond.

This strategic move comes amid escalating global rivalries, particularly between China, the U.S., and other major powers. In April, Chinese President Xi Jinping toured Southeast Asia—visiting Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam—to bolster China’s regional influence. Around the same time, a U.S. envoy sent by President Donald Trump visited several ASEAN nations, aiming to mend diplomatic strains caused by trade policies and to reiterate Washington’s commitment to a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

Simultaneously, Trump made visits to three Gulf nations, announcing new agreements and criticizing America's historical role as a regional overseer. Adding to the flurry of diplomatic activity, French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam, reminding Southeast Asian nations that the European Union remains a viable partner.

Malaysia’s hosting of the China-ASEAN-GCC summit is notable, given its position as ASEAN chair and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s support for regional unity and innovation in diplomacy. Ahead of the summit, ASEAN nations adopted a long-term strategy—ASEAN 2045—which outlines their ambition to transform Southeast Asia into a global economic powerhouse through stronger collaboration with key global actors.

China and the GCC stand out among those actors. Together, they represent roughly 25% of the global population and a similar share of the world’s economic output. China is already the top trading partner of both ASEAN and the GCC, importing over one-third of its oil from Gulf states, while ASEAN has surpassed the EU as China’s largest economic partner.

The summit united China (the world’s second-largest economy), ASEAN (fifth-largest), and energy-rich GCC countries. Leaders voiced strong optimism. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar advocated for a dialogue between Confucian and Islamic cultures, echoing China’s Global Civilization Initiative. Chinese Premier Li Qiang described the trilateral partnership as a strategic “big triangle” built on shared Asian values like openness, cooperation, and mutual development—a vision set against what Beijing sees as Western-dominated frameworks.

This emphasis on “Asian values” is now central to China’s diplomatic messaging. President Xi recently held a rare high-level meeting focused on China’s neighboring regions, declaring these relationships essential for the country’s development and security. While some observers see echoes of a modern-day “Pax Sinica” in China’s growing regional influence, Beijing dismisses such interpretations, instead drawing from the inclusive and integrative ideals of the ancient Silk Road.

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