Countries in the region could feel less pressure as the thaw in US-China ties continues but deeper disputes remain unresolved, analysts say
4-MIN READ4-MINShi JiangtaoandFan ChenPublished: 4:06pm, 27 Sep 2026Southeast Asia is welcoming the thaw in US-China ties continuing after the Xi-Trump summit, with analysts saying the region could feel less pressure alongside fewer open frictions between the two over the South China Sea.Yet, caution persists as the summit left deeper disputes unresolved.
“Stable great-power relations – competitive but with sturdy guardrails – will create more legroom for third countries to navigate an increasingly complex world,” according to Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, a research fellow at the Manila-based Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation.
