US President Donald Trump is preparing for a high-stakes trip to Asia this week, drawing international attention as he eyes a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that could reshape global economic dynamics.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump described his upcoming visit to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea as a “big trip,” marking his first journey to the region since returning to the White House amid renewed trade disputes and tense diplomacy. While the itinerary remains largely under wraps, Trump has suggested that his expected face-to-face with Xi in South Korea may still be uncertain, reflecting the volatile nature of US-China relations.
The White House has yet to release specific details about the trip, but Trump has been vocal about his goal to strike a “good” trade deal with China and bring an end to the tariff war that has disrupted markets across the world. Host nations, meanwhile, are preparing lavish receptions in an effort to maintain favor with the unpredictable American leader while securing better trade and security terms.
The first stop on Trump’s itinerary is Malaysia, where he will attend the ASEAN summit from October 26 to 28 — an event he notably skipped multiple times during his first term. Alongside discussions on regional trade, he is also expected to witness the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, a move his administration has promoted as part of broader diplomatic achievements. “President Trump is keen to see the more positive results of the peace negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday.
Trump may also meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the summit to reset relations after months of diplomatic friction, according to officials from both countries.
From there, Trump will head to Tokyo, where he is scheduled to meet Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the first woman to hold the position. Japan has largely avoided the harshest of Trump’s tariff measures, but the US president is expected to push Tokyo to curb its imports of Russian energy and align with Western allies in expanding defense spending.
The final and most anticipated leg of Trump’s trip is South Korea, where he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit beginning October 29. The long-awaited meeting with Xi could be the first between the two leaders since Trump’s return to power, potentially offering a chance to ease trade tensions. However, Trump’s frustration with China’s restrictions on rare earth exports and his recent tariff escalations have cast doubt on the tone of the encounter.
“I hope to make a deal with Xi on everything,” Trump said Wednesday, adding that he believed the Chinese leader could play a significant role in convincing Russia’s Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Still, he admitted earlier in the week that the meeting “maybe won’t happen.”
Experts caution that expectations should remain modest. “The meeting will be a data point along an existing continuum rather than an inflection point in the relationship,” said Ryan Hass, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
South Korea, hoping to strengthen its economic partnership with Washington, is reportedly considering awarding Trump the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the nation’s highest honor, during his visit.
Adding further complexity to the trip, North Korea launched several ballistic missiles on Wednesday, just days before Trump’s arrival. Although Trump has expressed interest in meeting Kim Jong Un again — following their historic summits during his first term — there has been no confirmation from the White House that another encounter is being planned.
