ASEAN countries have benefited from foreign companies setting up manufacturing bases in the region for decades due to their lower production costs. They have also benefited from the integration of global supply chains and trade liberalization. In the face of the US-China trade war, ASEAN nations are not only showing their resilience, but also looking like to benefit from the dispute. Rian Maelzer reports from Kuala Lumpur.

A Malaysian firm in Thailand producing parts for Japanese automakers. A Japanese firm in Malaysia producing electronics components for export to China. A Chinese company in Vietnam making power units for South Korean products.

Globalization in action in ASEAN. Companies producing components to be assembled into finished products in China are concerned about the impact of a protracted US-China trade war. But many see opportunities for ASEAN.

DR. XIANG BING CHEUNG KONG GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, BEIJING "One potential positive dividend we can derive from this trade friction is that it will force many Chinese companies to truly go global. So many companies will come to this region: Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. The supply chain will be re-configurated."

Surveys suggest US companies are looking at boosting investment in the region.

DR. SYED MUNIR KHASRU INSTITUTE FOR POLICY, ADVOCACY AND GOVERNANCE "If this Trump administration imposition of tariffs goes on, almost one third are seriously thinking of shifting manufacturing base from China, which automatically opens up doors for ASEAN countries like Thailand, Malaysia, which have a solid manufacturing base."

Vietnam, with its proximity to China and low costs, also looks likely to be one of the main beneficiaries.

DR. ADAM MCCARTY CHIEF ECONOMIST, MEKONG SECURITIES "Vietnam is winning from the trade wars. The longer-term impacts, medium and longer term, have been really positive. I mean a lot more FDI is flowing in faster than usual and I think connected to this trade war issue."

RIAN MAELZER KUALA LUMPUR "It's not only manufacturing and FDI that could gain. Malaysia and Indonesia, for instance, are expecting demand for their palm oil to rise as China seeks alternatives to US soya imports."

But regardless of any possible upside, ASEAN's leaders continue to push for greater global trade liberalization and will hope that the trade war is resolved swiftly. Rian Maelzer, CGTN, Kuala Lumpur.