Donald Trump has wrapped up his state visit to China with a glowing review of his own work there, while dodging questions over Taiwan. The US president travelled to China this week to meet with the country's leader, Xi Jinping, to discuss Iran, smooth over trade and other thorny topics like Taiwan.
Trump Claims Success in Beijing Talks
Before heading off today, Trump said he and Xi 'settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn't have been able to solve.' Talks last night are likely to have focused on the troubled Strait of Hormuz, and both leaders 'agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy,' a White House statement said. The Strait, which handles around a fifth of the world's oil trade, remains largely blocked by Tehran, while the US is stopping Iranian vessels from coming and going to hurt the country financially.
Taiwan Issue Remains Unresolved
Despite Trump's bold statement, questions around Taiwan remain. He sent mixed messages about the island, a self-governing area that China considers its own. The US has been a close ally to Taiwan, with the Trump administration providing £11 billion in military support last year. Trump said he hasn't decided whether to send more arms support to Taiwan yet, a move that is likely to cause trepidation on the island which relies heavily on diplomatic and practical support from the US and other countries. He said: 'I'll make a determination over the next fairly short period.' The administration had previously earmarked a further £14 billion package to Taiwan, but the White House is said to have held off from a decision before the state visit.
Trump Praises Kim Jong-un
In a slightly surprising twist, Trump gave a shout-out to the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the POTUS said: 'I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un.' He revealed he has had communication with Kim, but declined to share details. 'He's been respectful of our country. I want him to be respectful,' Trump said.
Reunion with Elon Musk
A tech summit during the China visit saw Trump reunite with his former wingman Elon Musk, who had a high-profile falling out with the president last summer. Now their relationship appears to be on the mend as Musk was on board Air Force One, along with Nvidia's boss Jensen Huang.
