Xi Jinping has projected stability, but analysts say China's maritime claims may keep neighbors from drifting too far from Washington.

Trump on April 2 stunned the world with massive tariffs that he said would prevent countries like China from “ripping off” the U.S. Chinese leader Xi Jinping ditched official caution and issued a patriotic message casting doubt on whether American voters could bear as much hardship as the Chinese.

Donald Trump said that Xi Jinping’s ongoing tour of Southeast Asia was to “screw” the US, which hit Beijing with massive import tariffs earlier this month, even as the Chinese leader urged Vietnam to resist “unilateral bullying” by Washington.