President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephonic conversation, as reported by Xinhua News. The call occurred against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations, including a potential deal concerning the TikTok app. Prior to the call, reports surfaced suggesting that Trump had delayed approval of military aid to Taiwan, potentially as a tactic in trade negotiations with China. Discussions also centered on a summit between the two leaders, as indicated in a report. The Trump administration appears to be aiming for a more conciliatory approach toward Beijing.
Discussions between Trump and Xi are also expected to finalize a deal to separate the TikTok app from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to avoid a ban in the United States. The former President Joe Biden had previously enacted a law requiring ByteDance to divest the app or face a US ban due to national security concerns, and this law was scheduled to take effect earlier this year. Trump has since extended the deadline. US officials have indicated a framework for a deal to keep TikTok operational. Trade teams from both countries held recent talks in multiple locations, including Madrid, Spain, following previous discussions. These discussions addressed TikTok and related concerns. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and has vowed to unify with Taiwan, using force if necessary.
