English
Trump Announces Expected Visit to China Early Next Year
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will visit China early next year, noting that he has received an official invitation and that a date has been agreed upon.
Trump made the announcement during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House. He also indicated his expectation of concluding a trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an upcoming meeting in South Korea this month, despite ongoing tariff disputes.
These statements come at a time of heightened trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, amid attempts to reset the economic course between the world's two largest economies.
Trump emphasized that he does not believe China is seeking to invade Taiwan, praising his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he is scheduled to meet later this month at the Asia-Pacific Summit in South Korea.
Responding to a previous US Department of Defense assessment that suggested Beijing might attempt to seize control of the island by 2027, Trump said, "I think things will go well with China. China doesn't want to do that."
He added that Taiwan may be the "apple of President Xi's eye," but he saw no signs of military action, noting that China recognizes that the United States is "by far the world's largest military power," and that "no one will mess with that."
Trump emphasized the importance of reaching an understanding with China on Taiwan and other issues, asserting that his priority is to reach a "fair" trade agreement, without clarifying whether Washington would abandon its support for Taiwan as part of any potential agreement.
"I want to treat China well," the US president said, praising what he described as a "great relationship" with his Chinese counterpart.
The United States has recognized Beijing's sovereignty over Taipei since 1979, but it continues to supply Taiwan with weapons for its own defense, while maintaining an ambiguous position on direct military intervention.
