Trump's Asia Diplomacy: Key Meetings and Trade Tensions

Tue Oct 28 2025 17:00:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As President Trump embarks on a significant diplomatic mission across Asia, the focus is on key meetings with world leaders and the ongoing trade tensions, particularly with China.

US President Donald Trump is set to engage in a whirlwind tour of Asia with significant diplomatic stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. A centerpiece of this trip is a long-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, aimed at addressing trade tensions between the two largest economies. Analysts speculate about the potential outcomes and challenges of this pivotal encounter, which could significantly impact trade relations and geopolitical dynamics.

US President Donald Trump is arriving in Asia for a whirlwind week of diplomacy, which includes a much-anticipated meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Top of the agenda between the two will be trade – an area where tensions between the world's two biggest economies have once again been ramping up.

Trump lands in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, as a summit for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, begins on Sunday. He will then visit Japan and finally South Korea, where the White House says he will meet Xi.

So what are the wins Trump and other leaders are hoping for, and what are the pitfalls?

Our correspondents explain what you should know about the week ahead.

For Trump, China is the key

By Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

Inking new trade deals that provide opportunities to American businesses while keeping the tariff revenue flowing into the US Treasury is sure to be a central focus of Trump's Asia trip.

Trump's scheduled meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of Apec could set the course for US-China relations for the rest of Trump's second term in office.

As the US president has acknowledged, draconian tariffs on Chinese imports are unsustainable.

When he heads back to America next week, Trump is sure to be pleased if he is able to finalise a deal with South Korea and secure new Japanese investment in US manufacturing.

Xi's long game

By Laura Bicker, China correspondent

When Chinese leader Xi Jinping meets Trump on 30 October in South Korea, he wants to be the tougher negotiator.

That is why he has been leveraging China's stranglehold on rare earths, exploiting U.S. weaknesses, and impacting American farmers.

A starring role in 'peace'

By Jonathan Head, South East Asia correspondent

The US president appears interested in playing the starring role in a peace ceremony arranged for him, as Thailand and Cambodia work toward resolving border issues.

Talking tariffs as Kim Jong Un looms

By Jake Kwon, Seoul correspondent

For South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, the pressing issue will be Trump's tariffs, alongside speculation of a potential meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.