U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will soon embark on a crucial diplomatic tour of Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, signaling renewed engagement with Asia amid ongoing trade tensions with China.
Speaking at the White House alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump maintained an upbeat tone regarding his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, despite recent frictions. “We’re going to have a fair deal. I want to be good to China. I love my relationship with President Xi,” he said.
According to Kyodo News, Trump expressed optimism about meeting Xi in South Korea during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Summit in late October. The U.S. president said the location was “a good place to meet,” confirming, “I’ll be in Malaysia, I’ll be in Japan.”
While Trump has previously mentioned plans to hold one-on-one talks with Xi during the summit, this marks the first time he has publicly shared his intent to include Malaysia and Japan in his itinerary.
Japanese officials revealed that Trump is expected to spend three days in Japan starting October 27, following his visit to Malaysia for a regional conference with Southeast Asian nations and their partners. His trip will conclude in South Korea, sources confirmed.
This will be Trump’s first visit to the region since beginning his nonconsecutive second term in January, a move widely viewed as part of a broader diplomatic reset across Asia.
In a world often divided by policy and power, such visits remind us that diplomacy still begins with dialogue — and the willingness to meet halfway.
