The world is now undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, with unilateralism and protectionism gaining momentum. As the head of the Asia-Pacific Think Tank, I would like to discuss the mission and responsibilities of China and ASEAN under the tariff hegemony of the United States.

Facing the U.S. tariff war, China and ASEAN must stand firm and unite as one.?We must be clear-eyed that the so-called “tariff war” is, in essence, a war of containment disguised as rules, waged through technology, and aimed at hegemony. The U.S. launched the tariff war not for fairness, but for a monopoly; not for prosperity, but to maintain an asymmetrical advantage in the global order.

Facing this unjust economic war, we must abandon all illusions without succumbing to undue anxiety. The wisdom of Eastern civilization fortifies us with confidence and strength, ensuring that we always possess the means to resolve such challenges. Chinese President Xi Jinping once quoted ancient Chinese philosopher Su Xun in a speech: “The essence of generalship lies first in mastering the mind.” That means, prevailing in war requires unity of thought and conviction. Therefore, in the face of the unjust tariff war, the foremost task for China and ASEAN is to stand more united than ever before.

Su Xun authored a renowned essay titled “On the Six States,” which I believe all scholars studying Chinese politics and history have likely read. “The downfall of the six states resulted not from inferior weapons or poor tactics, but from their fatal practice of appeasing the Qin state with bribes,” stated Su. This underscores that, when confronting hegemonic powers and unjust wars, compromise and concession only erode one’s strategic strength, accelerate territorial encroachment, and ultimately ultimately become the primary cause of failure. When resisting U.S. tariff hegemony today, we must draw wisdom from history. We must not “cede territory to bribe the Qin state,” nor be misled by simplistic game theory paradigms. Only by truly uniting as one, forging mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and helping each other can we achieve a historic breakthrough for the Global South.

We must clearly recognize that China and ASEAN share a common home, and the tariff hegemony is destroying our shared home. U.S. tariff hegemony is a reflection of its decline in areas such as technology. It can no longer lead the world, so it has reverted to plunder and exploitation, seeking to use its remaining advantages to drag human society back into a dark jungle of zero-sum games.?But we must soberly acknowledge that while the U.S. has already forfeited its future, it remains formidable in the short term. This is precisely why Global South nations must unite as companions and stand together in mutual support.

This moment harkens to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech titled “For a Shared Future and Our Common Home” at the Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, in which he proposed to build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable home together. Today, we must stay firmly aware that in this turbulent era, the China-ASEAN community with a shared future is our common home, a safe harbor where we can shelter from the storm and pursue common development.

President Xi proposed building a community?with a shared future?for mankind. This vision transcends the historical limitations of Western-centrism and provides real insight into the universal law of human social development. It demonstrates the coexistence of civilizations, the power of cooperation, and the promise of progress. This is precisely why we have every reason to believe that China and ASEAN joining hands to build such a community with a shared future is not merely a pragmatic choice—it is the answer our era demands.

The rise of the Global South is an inevitable trend. We must have faith in our own strength. I firmly believe that human civilization cannot regress and that civilization must never yield to uncivilized forces.?President Xi has repeatedly pointed out that “the collective rise of the Global South represents a clear sign of profound changes in the world.”

The world has witnessed how the Belt and Road Initiative has achieved unprecedented global connectivity and how Chinese modernization has extended technological benefits to the Global South—creating opportunities for these nations to pursue their own modernization and fostering unprecedented unity among them in global governance. Although the U.S. is undermining the free trade system and attempting to exploit the world again through technological barriers, it has already failed. The development of China’s high-speed rail, C919 passenger jet, DeepSeek, humanoid robots, and more has shattered these technological barriers. Yet, unlike those who hoard technological advantages to build economic moats, China has chosen to share these innovations with the Global South, enabling ASEAN travelers to ride high-speed rail, soon to fly on the C909, and providing free, open-source AI like DeepSeek.

I firmly believe that China and ASEAN should establish even closer collaborative mechanisms to intensify the exchange of good governance practices, energize our economic interactions, ensure comprehensive consideration of each nation’s industrial development, and foster thorough communication on strategic interests.

We are living through the worst of times: a superpower is clinging to its fading glory through exploitation and oppression. Yet we also stand at the threshold of the finest century, one where we now hold the power to forge an international order of justice and equity with our own hands. I am convinced that a century belonging to the Global South, an Asian century, is quietly dawning.

“A great vision, simple and pure, requires credible actions,” said President Xi. At this defining moment, let us unite as one, embracing the Global South’s responsibility in our era to safeguard our shared home. With Asian wisdom and action, we shall respond to the world’s uncertainties and establish a Southern paradigm for humanity’s peace and progress. Let us act now, for this century is the Asian Century.

Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee?is director of the Asia-Pacific Think Tank.