U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to visit China early next year following an invitation from Beijing. During a press briefing at the White House on Monday, he stated, “I’ve been invited to go to China, and I’ll be doing that sometime fairly early next year. We have it sort of set.”
Trump also mentioned his expectation to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month to finalize a “fair” trade deal, despite recent tensions over tariffs. The situation had escalated last week when China imposed new restrictions on rare earths exports, prompting Trump to threaten a 100% tariff on Chinese goods.
At one point, the prospect of an all-out trade war seemed imminent. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had criticized China for threatening global supply chains and industrial bases, calling it “a bazooka at the supply chains and the industrial base of the entire free world.”
However, Trump appeared to downplay the recent disputes, emphasizing the need for the two countries to work together for mutual benefit. He expressed hope that China would resume purchasing U.S. soybeans, which have suffered significantly due to the trade conflict, cutting off Midwestern farmers from their largest market.
Following Trump’s remarks, Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures reached their highest level in a month, reflecting optimism about renewed trade relations.
Trump also voiced confidence in his relationship with Xi, contradicting a recent Pentagon assessment that suggested China might attempt to seize Taiwan by 2027. “I think we’ll be just fine with China. China doesn’t want to do that,” he told reporters during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
While acknowledging that China has ambitions regarding Taiwan, Trump described it as “the apple of Xi’s eye.” However, he argued that China would be deterred from invading, citing the United States’ overwhelming military strength. “We have the best of everything, and nobody’s going to mess with that,” he said.
Trump declined to comment on whether he would compromise U.S. support for Taiwan as part of any agreement with Xi.
In June, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled China a “threat to the region” during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned, “The U.S. should not entertain illusions about using the Taiwan question as a bargaining chip to contain China, nor should it play with fire.”
China asserts sovereignty over Taiwan, which separated from the mainland after the 1949 civil war. The Chinese government has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. The Chinese military frequently conducts exercises near Taiwan, including sending fighter jets and warships into nearby airspace and waters.
The U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a country but remains its primary international supporter. Under U.S. law, Washington is obligated to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons. However, the U.S. has often maintained ambiguity regarding its willingness to use military force to defend the island.
Former President Joe Biden had previously indicated that the U.S. would intervene militarily if China acted against Taiwan. Recently, Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te pledged to enhance the island’s air defense system and increase defense spending to counter “hostile threats.”
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