In the midst of a trade war, the US president also states that he thinks he will “reach a good agreement” with his Chinese counterpart
US President Donald Trump announced this Monday that he will visit China at the beginning of next year, at the invitation of Beijing. “I was invited to go to China and I will do so sometime early next year. It’s more or less set,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Before this trip to China, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet later this month in South Korea. But back to this Monday: Trump assured that he has a “very good relationship” with his Chinese counterpart: “I’m going to meet with President Xi; we have a very good relationship,” said Trump alongside his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, at the White House.
Trump acknowledged some tension, saying that Beijing is trying to “take advantage” of the US, but said he was hopeful for a trade agreement. “I hope we can reach a very fair agreement with President Xi of China,” he said. “It will be very exciting and I think we will reach a good agreement.”
Trump also said he believes that the AUKUS pact, which aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, could act as a deterrent for Beijing. However, he does not believe it is necessary to resort to military force. “I think there will be no problems with China,” he said. “China doesn’t want to do that.”
“I think we will do very well with regard to Taiwan and others,” he continued. “That doesn’t mean it’s not the apple of your eye, because it probably is, but I don’t see anything happening.”
China considers Taiwan an integral part of its own territory and has promised to “reunify” with the island by force if necessary. Taiwan firmly opposes China’s sovereignty claims.
