Several community groups sprang up in response. One of them is “Protect”, which deploys people to places of worship that are potentially under threat.
China has not always had an easy relationship with this region. Barring Laos, Cambodia and a war-torn Myanmar, the others are wary of Beijing's ambitions. Territorial disputes in the South China have soured ties with the Philippines. This is also an issue with others such as Vietnam and Malaysia, but trade has been a balancing factor.But that might change now, experts say.
"South East Asia had to think about whether they really wanted to offend China. Now this complicates things," says Chong Ja-Ian, associate professor at the National University of Singapore.China's loss could be South East Asia's gain.Hao Le, in Vietnam, says he has seen a surge in enquiries from American customers scouting for new electronics suppliers, outside of China: "In the past, US buyers would take months to switch suppliers. Today, such decisions are made within days."
Malaysia, with sprawling rubber plantations and the world's largest medical rubber glove maker, has nearly half the world's market for rubber gloves. But it is poised to grab a bigger share from its main competitor, China.The region still faces a 10% baseline tariff, like most of the world. And that is bad news, says Oon Kim Hung, president of the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association.
But even if the paused tariffs kick in, he says, customers will find paying an additional 24% on Malaysian gloves vastly preferable to the 145% levy they will have to cough up for Chinese-made gloves.
"We're not exactly jumping with joy, but this may well benefit our manufacturers, as well as those in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia."His White House comeback will be dramatic and eventful, with consequences felt around the world. It may change America in fundamental and lasting ways.
Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second presidential term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly. Readers in the UK can
. Those outside the UK canThe High Court has said it expects to rule on Friday on whether far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon can challenge his jail conditions.