KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — President Donald Trump is visiting Southeast Asia for the first time since returning to office. His tour will take him through Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, ending in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. As tensions rise between the U.S. and China, experts are closely watching this trip.
Victor Cha, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, believes there are two main messages Trump wants to send: he aims to be seen as a peacemaker and a dealmaker. He expects no major trade deal from his meeting with Xi but hopes to ease tensions for a while.
Trade issues are at the forefront of this trip. Trump indicated he would support American farmers if his talks with China don’t yield results. He also aims to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict with Xi, suggesting he’d like China to help in some way.
Next, Trump plans to meet Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and attend a dinner with leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This year, Malaysia chairs ASEAN, and the theme is all about inclusivity and sustainability.
In Japan, Trump will meet with new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and visit Emperor Naruhito. Takaichi intends to boost Japan’s defense spending, a goal likely to please Trump, as he encourages allies to increase military budgets. The two leaders might revisit an earlier trade deal from July.
In South Korea, Trump will speak at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference and have discussions with local business leaders. Trade remains the key topic, with negotiations moving forward on agreements with South Korea and Japan, as well as with China and Malaysia. Ahead of Trump’s arrival in Kuala Lumpur, U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting to prepare for their discussions.
As emphasized by Cha, while this trip isn’t aligned with the typical multilateral schedule, regional leaders are still eager to engage with Trump. They are looking for favorable trade terms, believing they can make beneficial agreements.
The anticipated meeting with Xi is crucial. The U.S. and China are facing challenges over trade, with Trump threatening new tariffs on Chinese goods. He plans to address various issues, including drug trafficking and China’s purchase of Russian oil.
Analysts urge caution about what this high-level meeting can achieve. Sun Chenghao from Tsinghua University notes that such encounters haven’t always prevented future tensions.
Meanwhile, Trump has expressed a desire to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, although Kim is firm about the need for U.S. recognition as a nuclear power before negotiations can resume. Trump’s acknowledgment of North Korea as a nuclear state could open doors for discussion.
In many ways, this trip represents the complex dynamics of international relations in our time. The presence of U.S. leadership in Asia can shape future alliances and trade policies, impacting economies on both sides.
For more insights into these international relations, check the analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies here.
