Trump and Xi Talk Ahead of Presidential Transition: Aiming for Better Relations
WASHINGTON: Former President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the phone on Friday, right before Trump is set to return to the White House. Both leaders expressed a desire to improve the relationship between the United States and China.
Xi shared his hope for a "good start" in relations with Trump, who responded by expressing optimism about tackling issues together. Throughout his election campaign, Trump had threatened to impose significant tariffs on China and other trading partners. However, he has also indicated a willingness to engage in discussions with Xi, a leader he has historically shown admiration for.
One pressing issue is the potential for a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports, added to existing tariffs from Trump’s earlier term. This move is largely a response to concerns that China is allowing fentanyl-related substances to enter the U.S. from Mexico, contributing to approximately 70,000 overdose deaths annually.
After their call, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to say, “We discussed balancing trade, fentanyl, TikTok, and many other topics. President Xi and I will do everything we can to make the world more peaceful and safe!”
In a notable political move, Trump has invited Xi to his inauguration next year, despite experts suggesting this could be more of a political spectacle than a genuine gesture.
Last year, the U.S. Congress passed legislation requiring TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to either sell the app or shut it down due to concerns about national security. Many in Washington fear the popular app might be a tool for spying or spreading propaganda, although Trump has voiced opposition to the ban.
As Trump prepares for his return, there are rising concerns that relations between the U.S. and China could become strained quickly. Recent comments from Marco Rubio, Trump’s choice for secretary of state, were met with backlash from Beijing. Rubio labeled China as a serious adversary and criticized its rise to superpower status, promising to strengthen defenses for Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.
During their conversation, Xi noted that the Taiwan issue is crucial to China’s sovereignty and urged the U.S. to approach it carefully. Reports also stated that Trump expressed his eagerness to meet with Xi in the near future and had prompted the call.
Under President Biden, the administration sought to ease tensions with China and acknowledged some efforts taken by Beijing regarding fentanyl. In his farewell speech, Biden stated that the U.S. would continue to be a dominant superpower and that his management of ties with Beijing kept the relationship from escalating into conflict during his presidency.
