US–China Competition Intensifies During Trump’s Asia Trip as Beijing Courts Nations

ASEAN’s 11 members also comprise China’s biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling $771 billion last year.
US–China Competition Intensifies During Trump’s Asia Trip as Beijing Courts Nations
President Donald Trump waves as he prepares to board Air Force One to depart for South Korea at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 29, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
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U.S. President Donald Trump has signed deal after deal during an Asia tour that will culminate with a meeting with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping this week. Meanwhile, Beijing is trying to drive a wedge between Asian nations and the United States as Chinese officials seek their own trade deals.

The trip is bookended by two major Asian summits—ASEAN in Malaysia and APEC in South Korea—allowing for potential meetings with dozens of nations on the sidelines.

Catherine Yang
Catherine Yang
Author
Catherine Yang has been with The Epoch Times in New York since 2008. She also launched and previously served as chief editor of American Essence magazine and Epoch Health.