In a significant diplomatic development, United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first phone call in three months, resulting in a notable reduction of tensions between the two superpowers. Earlier this week, the call seemed to break some new ground when, according to media reports, the two sides reached a consensus on a U.S. The UK-based app has caused unprecedented turbulence in US-China relations.
At times during the discussion, President Trump sounded cautiously positive on the deal struck thus far on TikTok. He thanked everyone for the approval process that has unfolded. Both leaders should be looking forward to their summit next week at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The forum begins October 31 in Gyeongju, South Korea. These relations won’t improve while Trump and Xi are engaged in their own direct, face-to-face—even telephone—talks.
Trump remarked on the significance of their dialogue, stating, “The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC!” He called attention to their advancement on multiple key bipartisan issues. These are our trade relations, our response to the fentanyl crisis, and the war that Russia continues to wage against Ukraine.
Despite Trump’s assertions of progress regarding TikTok, China’s official statement refrained from confirming any final agreement. Xi further reiterated that China will respect the independence of enterprises and foster market-oriented negotiations among companies.
“On TikTok, Xi said China’s position is clear: the Chinese government respects the will of firms and welcomes companies to conduct business negotiations on the basis of market rules to reach a solution consistent with Chinese laws and regulations while balancing interests.” – Xinhua
The forthcoming APEC leaders forum is the primary venue for leaders. They’re going to need to on-anchor their conversations about TikTok and other debatable issues. The in-person meeting is only a little more than a month away. This game-changing opening could allow Trump and Xi to advance their own countries’ interests by resolving some of the most important issues currently between them.
As both leaders try to manage a challenging and contentious bilateral relationship, the future of TikTok sits at the center of a disappointing crossfire. The app has come under fire from American lawmakers worried about national security threats posed by its Chinese ownership. The result of these cordial exchanges will determine whether or not we will see improved collaboration on key joint challenges or greater antagonism between the two nations.
