Expectations differ as China and Asian neighbours look to Trump visit for clearer picture on US policy
US president could reassert American leadership in East Asia after long period of uncertainty
China and other Asian nations have different expectations for US President Donald Trump’s visit next month, but all of them hope it will provide a clearer picture on Washington’s strategy in the region.
China’s neighbours, including Japan and the Philippines, expect Trump to reassert America’s strategic presence in the region after a long period of uncertainty over US foreign policy. But that would likely dismay Beijing, which is expecting a push for more coordination to rein in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
Trump will travel to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines from November 3 to 14, and will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam.
A detailed itinerary of the trip has not been disclosed, but how much time he spends on each stop will be closely watched as it may offer clues to the US foreign policy agenda.
Liu Weidong, a US affairs expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Beijing was hoping Washington would make clear its position on China’s place in its regional strategy.