Trump's Asia tour sees deals, knee-bending and a revealing final meeting

October 30, 2025

Donald Trump's five-day tour through Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and China showcased contrasting displays of American presidential power and its constraints. In the first three countries, Trump received elaborate royal treatment including ceremonies, expensive gifts, and substantial economic commitments, with leaders accommodating his demands for trade deals and financial contributions under the threat of tariffs. However, his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan represented a starkly different dynamic—a negotiation between economic equals at a plain table without pageantry, resulting in mutual de-escalation after months of tariff warfare.

Who is affected

Donald Trump and the United States government
Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government
Malaysian, Japanese, and South Korean governments and their export-dependent economies
Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi of Japan and President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea
Thailand and Cambodia (border tensions)
American allies traditionally relying on US political, economic, and military support
US farmers affected by Chinese agricultural purchase suspensions
American and global manufacturers dependent on Chinese critical minerals

What action is being taken

Trump is imposing tariffs and negotiating "reciprocal" trade deals with various nations
South Korea is making $200 billion in cash payments to the US at $20 billion annually
Japan is investing $550 billion in the US
China has suspended purchases of US agricultural products and is controlling exports of critical minerals
The US and China are mutually de-escalating: the US is lowering tariffs while China is easing access to critical minerals, resuming US agricultural imports, and increasing purchases of US oil and gas
Xi Jinping is fully participating in APEC leaders meetings that Trump is skipping

Why it matters

This trip reveals a fundamental shift in the global order where traditional American alliances are being redefined through transactional relationships based on economic leverage rather than long-standing partnerships. The contrast between Trump's interactions with smaller Asian allies and his negotiation with China demonstrates the limits of American economic coercion when facing a peer competitor. The recalibration of US foreign policy—prioritizing tariffs, direct payments, and bilateral deals over multilateral engagement—creates strategic uncertainty that China appears positioned to exploit. As traditional allies like Japan and South Korea are forced to make costly accommodations to maintain US support, they may eventually reevaluate their relationships with both America and China, potentially reshaping the entire Asia-Pacific security and economic architecture.

What's next

Trade arrangements with Southeast Asian nations are being finalized
The international order replacing the current situation remains unclear, with continued "frictions" between the US and China expected
American allies are continuing to adjust and reevaluate their relations with both the US and China
China is participating in APEC meetings and appears willing to fill any vacuum created by American diplomatic withdrawal

Read full article from source: BBC