President Donald Trump is nearing the middle of his weeklong tour of Asia, visiting Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. The trip will conclude after discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During his first stop in Malaysia, Trump attended the ASEAN Summit; signed reciprocal trade agreements with Thai, Malaysian and Cambodian leaders; brokered the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords between Cambodia and Thailand; and signed minerals deals with Malaysia and Thailand.
In Japan, Trump met with Emperor Naruhito for half an hour on Monday and is scheduled to meet with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday.
What will Trump and Takaichi discuss in Japan?
Trump and Takaichi are likely to finalize a trade agreement. Following the country’s agreement made in July, details remain to be ironed out on how Japan will deploy $550 billion to the U.S., as part of the country’s lowered tariff rate.
Takaichi is also suspected to raise concerns about China, their military build-up and economic power.
As Trump has encouraged European countries to increase their military spending to aid in the Ukraine war, he is likely to encourage Japan to increase its own military spending as well.
This would coincide with Takaichi’s campaign promise to bolster her country’s defense capabilities, as the Deseret News previously reported.
The United States has acted as Japan’s primary defense since the end of World War II. Article 9 of the Japanese constitution states, “land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained” and “the right of belligerency ... will not be recognized.”
Asian leaders including Xi Jinping to gather in South Korea
In Gyeongju, South Korea, Trump will join 1,700 global leaders in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit.
Trump will deliver a keynote speech on Wednesday, and Xi will make a special address the following day, the South Korean paper Chosun Daily reported.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick will join Trump in South Korea and is scheduled to have dinner with several prominent South Korean businessmen, including the chairmen of Hyundai Motor Group, LG, Samsung Electronics and Hanwha Aerospace.
Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on South Korea’s auto industry, which is higher than their Japanese and European rivals — which are both 15%.
South Korea’s new president Lee Jae-myung, who replaced Yoon Suk-yeol after he was impeached and removed from office in 2025, has advocated for a closer relationship with China than his predecessor.
Having President Trump and President Xi in the same room “will be a test of Mr. Lee’s diplomatic juggling,” The New York Times reported.
Will Trump meet with Kim Jong-un?
On Air Force One on Monday, Trump told reporters he’d be willing to extend his trip if North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered an invitation to meet.
“But I’d love to meet with him if he’d like to meet. I got along great with Kim Jong Un. I liked him, he liked me,” Trump said on Air Force One, per Fox News.
During his first presidency, Trump met with Kim three times, once on the North Korean leader’s own soil.
Last Wednesday, North Korea tested out a new hypersonic weapon, launching two projectiles that flew 350 kilometers from Pyongyang toward the northeast, the U.S. Naval Institute reported.