Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia rolled out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping to show they won’t be bullied in tariff negotiations with the US, analysts say. But they add that it remains a delicate balancing act for ASEAN states.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Vietnam to jointly oppose “unilateral bullying” in his first overseas trip this year in a veiled jab at the US. Hanoi’s initial silence on the request shows its attempt to walk a tightrope between the two powers.