US President Donald Trump said on Monday (October 20) that he plans to travel to China early next year. Speaking to reporters while hosting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, Trump said: “I’ve been invited to China and I’m going to do it sometime early next year. We’re kind of set up.”
The visit will follow Trump’s first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in his second term, which is scheduled during the upcoming Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea later this month.
Aim for a “fair” trade deal
Trump has stressed that his priority in meeting with Xi will be to negotiate a “fair” trade deal between the US and China. He also hinted at using other strategic tools, saying he could “threaten China with other things, including aircraft,” and expressed confidence that China would come to the negotiating table on critical minerals.
“I want to be nice to China. I love my relationship with President Xi Jinping. We have a great relationship,” Trump said, emphasizing the personal relationship he maintains with the Chinese leader.
Comments on Taiwan
When asked about Taiwan and whether he would sacrifice US support as part of a deal with China, Trump avoided a direct answer. “I think we’ll be fine with China. China doesn’t want to do it,” he said, referring to speculation about a potential Chinese invasion.
Trump expressed confidence in America’s military power, saying, “We have the best of everything, and nobody is going to mess with that. And I don’t see that in the president at all.” He added: “I think we will get along very well in terms of Taiwan and beyond.”
He declined to comment on reports that Beijing is pressuring Washington to avoid supporting Taiwan independence.
