China, ASEAN Upgrade Free-Trade Deal

China’s Commerce Ministry said on Wednesday that it negotiated a significantly upgraded free-trade deal with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (asean).

• asean includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
• The association is China’s largest trade partner.

Why it matters: China is pushing for greater relations with surrounding nations such as those in asean, especially amid intensified pressure from United States President Trump’s tariffs. This is significant because many of these nations are historically anti-China and pro-U.S.

Details: Negotiations for the so-called 3.0 version of this agreement—the China-asean Free-Trade Area—began in 2022. The ministry’s statement said the upgrade will “inject greater certainty into regional and global trade and play a leading and exemplary role for countries to adhere to openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation” and will “promote the deep integration of the production and supply chains of both sides.”

• The original deal was signed in 2002 and came into effect in 2010.
• The upgraded version includes more modern markets.

Prophesied union: The Trumpet and its predecessor, the Plain Truth, long forecast greater union between China and less powerful Asian nations—even those historically aligned against Beijing.

Bible prophecy reveals that China will play a leading role in a major Asian alliance soon to form. This alliance will play a major role in World War iii.

Learn more: Read our free booklet Russia and China in Prophecy.