As China faces off with the United States over a punishing trade war, it is under pressure to shore up its friendships around the world, starting with its neighbors in Southeast Asia. But its relations there are complicated.

随着中国与美国在一场惩罚性的贸易战中交锋，它面临在全球巩固友谊的压力，首先是东南亚邻国。但中国与该地区国家的关系相当复杂。

China’s leader, Xi Jinping, will be testing these ties this week as he visits Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia in the hope of blunting the effect of huge tariffs imposed by President Trump on Chinese exports to the United States.

本周，中国国家主席习近平将访问越南、马来西亚和柬埔寨，以检验这些关系，希望借此减轻特朗普总统对中国出口商品征收高额关税所带来的冲击。

Mr. Xi is likely to cast China as a reliable global partner in contrast to the unpredictable United States of President Trump, whose on-again, off-again tariffs have upended financial markets and confounded governments. While in Vietnam, for instance, Mr. Xi is expected to oversee the signing of around 40 agreements, including deals that would advance plans for Vietnam to accept Chinese loans for part of a $8.3 billion railway connecting northern Vietnam with China.

习近平很可能会将中国描绘成一个可靠的全球合作伙伴，与特朗普治下难以预测的美国形成对比。特朗普时而施行、时而取消的关税政策搅乱了金融市场，也让各国政府感到困惑。例如，在越南期间，习近平预计将见证约40项协议的签署，其中包括推动越南接受中国贷款，用于一条连接越南北部与中国的铁路部分路段的建设，该铁路总造价达83亿美元。

But his visit also points to a diplomatic tightrope that countries like Vietnam and Malaysia must walk as the Southeast Asian nations try to negotiate with the Trump administration for a reprieve from the tariffs.

但他的访问也凸显了像越南和马来西亚这样的国家所面临的外交平衡难题——这些东南亚国家正在试图与特朗普政府磋商，希望获得关税豁免。

Mr. Xi’s tour will start in Vietnam on Monday, followed by a three-day visit to Malaysia, ending the week in Cambodia.

习近平的行程将于周一开始，首先访问越南，随后是对马来西亚为期三天的访问，最后在柬埔寨结束一周的行程。

Trade at the Forefront

贸易优先

For the past decade, Beijing has engaged in a huge push to extend its economic and political influence across Southeast Asia. China is now the region’s most important trading partner. Senior officials, including Mr. Xi, regularly travel there.

过去十年，北京一直在大力推动其在东南亚地区的经济与政治影响力。如今，中国已成为该地区最重要的贸易伙伴。包括习近平在内的高级官员也定期到那里访问。

China is a major market for Vietnam’s agricultural products, while Vietnam imports raw materials from China for many factories driving exports. Between 60 and 90 percent of the raw materials for Vietnamese apparel heading for the U.S. market comes from China.

中国是越南农产品的重要市场，而越南则从中国进口大量原材料，用于工厂的出口生产。越南销往美国市场的服装中，有60%到90%的原材料来自中国。

Trade, a complicated issue, is likely to top the agenda. Caught between the U.S. tariffs and the risks of China’s goods flooding local economies, Southeast Asia finds itself with limited options.

复杂的贸易问题可能会成为此次访问的首要议题。东南亚国家夹在美国关税和中国商品涌入当地经济的风险之间，选择余地有限。

Since Mr. Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese goods in his first term, these countries have been alternative routes for those goods to reach the United States. That made Vietnam and Cambodia a target for Mr. Trump’s steep tariffs — which he has paused for 90 days.

自特朗普在首个任期对中国商品加征关税以来，这些东南亚国家成为中国商品流向美国的替代路径。这也使得越南和柬埔寨成为特朗普高额关税的目标——尽管他目前已暂停加征关税90天。

越南胡志明市最大的服装和纺织品批发市场新平市场，商贩们正在等待顾客。摄于4月。

These countries will also be concerned that as a result of the tariffs that Mr. Trump has maintained on Chinese goods, a glut of cheap Chinese goods, shut out of the U.S. market, could instead flow into Southeast Asia and overwhelm economies there.

这些国家还担心，随着特朗普维持对中国商品的关税，大量被美国市场拒之门外的廉价中国商品可能会涌入东南亚，冲击本地经济。

Mr. Xi will want to know more about how other countries might respond to the U.S.-China trade war. He will also want to bolster ties in case frictions arise, said Ja Ian Chong, a professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

新加坡国立大学政治学教授庄嘉颖表示，习近平将希望更多了解其他国家将如何应对美中贸易战，他也希望能加强与这些国家的关系，以防出现摩擦。

“There is the very real potential that P.R.C. goods will start flowing to these areas and questions about overcapacity, potential Chinese dumping would come up again,” he said, referring to the People’s Republic of China. “So he’s got to fix those relations.”

“中国商品很有可能会开始流入这些地区，而关于产能过剩和中国倾销的问题将再次浮现。”庄嘉颖说，“所以他必须修复这些关系。”

Sonal Varma, chief economist for Asia excluding Japan at Nomura, said that local economies would probably introduce measures to prevent China from dumping its goods on local economies. “Every country is now trying to protect its home turf,” she said.

野村证券亚洲区（除日本外）首席经济学家索纳尔·瓦尔马表示，当地经济体可能会采取措施，防止中国在本地市场倾销商品。“现在每个国家都在尽力保护本国市场，”她说。

Balancing China with the United States

在中美之间寻找平衡

While seeking opportunities from China, the Southeast Asian leaders may also need to avoid appearing too close.

在试图从中国寻求机会的同时，东南亚领导人或许也需要避免与中国表现得过于亲密。

There are fears among some Vietnamese officials, for instance, that the high-profile nature of Mr. Xi’s trip, as well as language emphasizing China’s partnerships, might make it harder for Vietnam to win a long-term reprieve from Mr. Trump’s tariffs.

例如，一些越南官员担心，习近平此次访问的高调性质，以及强调中国伙伴关系的措辞，可能会让越南更难从特朗普政府那里争取到长期关税豁免。

“Vietnam surely welcomes Xi’s visit to minimize its economic pains,” said Khang Vu, a visiting scholar in the Political Science Department at Boston College. “But it will have to avoid creating the impression that Vietnam is siding with China while negotiating a tariff reduction with the Trump administration.”

“越南当然欢迎习近平的访问，以最小化其经济阵痛，”波士顿学院政治系访问学者武春康(Khang Vu)表示，“但越南正与特朗普政府协商关税减免，它必须避免给人一种正在倒向中国的印象。”

The prime minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, defended the region’s relationship with China at a recent gathering of its officials.

马来西亚总理安瓦尔·易卜拉欣在最近一次官员会议上为该地区与中国的关系进行了辩护。

“China is a very important player we can’t ignore and yes, some countries have problems with it,” he said at the meeting. “We continue to navigate in the best manner possible, to secure peace, security and obtain most benefits in terms of economy and investments.”

“中国是一个我们无法忽视的重要角色，是的，有些国家确实与它存在问题，”他在那次会议上说。“我们仍在尽力以最妥善的方式前行，以确保和平、安全，并在经济和投资方面获得最大收益。”

Security and Territorial Disputes

安全与领土争议

Beijing has also financed the reconstruction of a major naval base in Cambodia, giving the Chinese military access to one of the world’s most vital sea lanes. While in Malaysia, Mr. Xi is expected to offer his support of existing agreements to build rail links and ports in the country.

中国还出资重建了柬埔寨一个重要的海军基地，使中国军队能够进入全球最关键的海上通道之一。在马来西亚，习近平预计将提供对现有铁路和港口建设协议的支持。

一艘中国军舰停靠在柬埔寨云壤海军基地。近年来，中国对该基地进行了翻新。

As Mr. Xi seeks to bolster ties, he may need to address China’s territorial disputes with Malaysia and Vietnam.

在习近平努力加深关系的同时，他也可能需要应对中国与马来西亚和越南之间的领土争端。

Chinese naval ships held military drills and live firing trainings near Vietnam just weeks ago. And in the past few months, Chinese authorities have beaten, shot and arrested Vietnamese fishermen.

就在几周前，中国海军舰艇在越南附近进行了军事演习和实弹训练。在过去几个月里，中国当局还曾殴打、枪击并逮捕越南渔民。

“It has to show that it’s willing to ease off a little on the coercive pressure,” Professor Chong said.

“中国必须表现出愿意在胁迫施压方面有所缓和，”庄嘉颖表示。