Conservative US host underestimates Southeast Asia’s economic clout

In the United States, conservative media personality Bill O’Reilly stirred some controversy after he weighed in on Chinese President Xi Jinping's Southeast Asia visit in a video widely circulating on social media.

O’Reilly questioned the rationale behind Xi’s Southeast Asia outreach, claiming that countries like Malaysia and Vietnam were unlikely to be major trade partners for China due to what he described as their limited purchasing power.

"President Xi, let me level with you — they don’t have the money to buy your goods," O’Reilly claimed in the clip.

He went on to suggest that China may be attempting to circumvent U.S. tariffs by rerouting exports through Vietnam, a strategy he claimed would be "easily uncovered."

O’Reilly, appearing dismissive, added: "The Malaysians aren’t going to buy your stuff — they don’t have any money," underscoring his skepticism about China’s regional trade ambitions.

Xi arrived in Malaysia on Monday for a three-day official visit, his first to the country in over a decade, amid heightened tensions with the United States over trade.

The visit is part of Xi’s broader tour of Southeast Asia, following his stop in Vietnam.

His trip comes as Beijing navigates a prolonged trade dispute with Washington under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.