Trump and Xi will likely speak this week, says White House
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will likely speak this week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday, days after Trump accused China of violating an agreement to roll back tariffs and trade restrictions.
Leavitt is the third top Trump aide to forecast an imminent call between the two leaders to iron out differences on last month's tariff agreement in Geneva, among larger trade issues.
It was not immediately clear when the two leaders will speak.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that Trump and Xi would speak "very soon" to iron out trade issues including a dispute over critical minerals and China's restrictions on exports of certain minerals.
Trump said on Friday he was sure that he would speak to Xi. China said in April that the two leaders had not had a conversation recently.
On Saturday, the US Trade Representative's office announced it would continue to exclude certain solar manufacturing equipment and other products from existing tariffs on Chinese goods until August 31, offering a three-month extension while talks with Beijing continue.
Bessent led negotiations with China in Geneva last month that resulted in a temporary truce in the trade war between the world's two biggest economies, but progress since then has been slow, the US Treasury chief told Fox News last week.
The US-China agreement to dial back triple-digit tariffs for 90 days prompted a massive relief rally in global stocks. But it did nothing to address the underlying reasons for Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods, mainly longstanding US complaints about China's state-dominated, export-driven economic model, leaving those issues for future talks.
A US trade court on Wednesday ruled that Trump overstepped his authority in imposing the bulk of his tariffs on imports from China and other countries under an emergency powers act. But less than 24 hours later, a federal appeals court reinstated the tariffs, saying it was pausing the trade court ruling to consider the government's appeal. The appeals court ordered the plaintiffs to respond by June 5 and the administration to respond by June 9.
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New Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Lee rode Korean voter discontent to power, now faces policy test
SOUTH Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung rode a wave of voter anger against the December martial law attempt by his ousted predecessor, but his ability to lead will be judged by the strength of his policies. With preliminary results suggesting a comfortable win over Kim Moon-soo, the candidate for the conservative People Power Party, Lee will take office with a resounding mandate and his Democratic Party in control of parliament. Healing the political rifts that led to former president Yoon Suk Yeol's shock martial law and its divisive aftermath will be a tall order. Analysts say both candidates were vague on their policy plans during the campaign, and Lee Jun-han, a political science professor at Incheon National University, said the results are more an indictment of Yoon and his PPP's poor performance than an endorsement of the DP. He said Kim, who opposed Yoon's impeachment, was unprepared and the PPP did not show remorse after the martial law. "(The next president) should properly interpret that the people's choice has been one-sided and show that in the government's operation or politics in the future," he said. "If they don't, public sentiment will fluctuate quickly." While Lee has had his eye on the presidency for years, there have been major developments since he narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 election, said Kim Jun-seok, a political science professor at Dongguk University. "Now he has restoration of democracy as one of his tasks," Kim said. "Nonetheless, there are huge challenges faced by South Korea. A grim outlook on the economy that's projected to grow maybe less than one per cent. "And there's a crisis outside, dealing with Trump. He has a lot of work to do." Voters said they were looking for the winner of the snap election to calm the economic and political shocks that have roiled the country since Yoon's Dec 3 martial law decree led to months of economic downturn and sparked nationwide protests. Many complained, however, about a lack of specifics in policy debates. Lee has pledged to draft a second supplementary budget for the year as soon as the election is over, and promised vouchers to help businesses and subsidies for childcare, youth, and the elderly to address growing discontent around tightening purse strings. His camp says they intend to seek more time to negotiate on trade with US President Donald Trump, but it is unclear how any request for an extension of the tariff deadline will be received in Washington. With a rise in anti-China sentiment among South Koreans and Trump's push to isolate Beijing, Lee must also tread carefully with any plans to improve ties with China. Lee has also shown sensitivity to the political winds, moderating some of his stances on China, Japan, and populist economic policies such as universal income ahead of the election. "I hope he will resuscitate the economy and get rid of insurrection forces," said Im Young-taek, 64, a small business owner. "And I do hope he will make people comfortable. "Things may not be easy with Trump, but I hope he will hire capable aides and settle the issues." Lee's Democratic Party will control Parliament, easing the passage of legislation and budgets after years of deadlock between Yoon and the legislature. That may do little to soothe political polarisation, however, with conservatives warning that Lee and the DP will steamroll over any opposition. Incheon University's Lee said: "Since they are the absolute majority, there seems to be few checks and balances to stop them." In May, a DP-led committee passed legislation aimed at changing an election law that Lee has been convicted of violating. They have also promised to pass legislation clarifying what protections presidents have from criminal investigations, a move seen as trying to reduce Lee's exposure to other charges.
The Star
41 minutes ago
- The Star
Continuity or reset? Japan, China seek clues to S. Korea President Lee Jae-myung's foreign policy
TOKYO/CHONGQING: South Korea's East Asian neighbours Japan and China on Wednesday (June 4) quickly congratulated President Lee Jae-myung on his resounding election win, even as both countries are closely watching for clues to how the liberal leader will approach bilateral relations. This scrutiny stems from perceptions that South Korean diplomacy oscillates wildly, depending on the ruling party of the day. Liberals are judged to be hostile towards Japan and friendly towards China and North Korea, while conservatives hold an opposite view. Ties between Tokyo and Seoul plunged into a deep freeze under the previous liberal president Moon Jae-in, only to thaw rapidly under Lee's ousted predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who is now facing insurrection charges for his martial law debacle. Lee had previously described Japan as an 'enemy nation' and gone on a 24-day hunger strike to oppose Yoon's conciliatory policies, which he termed 'humiliating diplomacy'. He has also criticised Yoon for worsening ties with China by moving closer to the United States on positions such as Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory to be reunited with. But Lee adopted a more centrist agenda on the campaign trail, saying that he wanted to repair fraying ties with China, while also insisting that he held a 'very favourable impression of the Japanese people'. His approach to this diplomatic tightrope will have ramifications from Washington to Tokyo, as the US corrals its Indo-Pacific allies for support in its big-power competition with China. Both Japan and South Korea are US security allies, while China is their largest trading partner. On June 4, Lee said: 'I will strengthen cooperation between South Korea, the US and Japan, based on the solid South Korea-US alliance, and will approach relations with neighbouring countries from the perspective of national interest and practicality.' All eyes will be on Lee's likely diplomatic debut on June 15 at the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Canada, where South Korea has been invited as an observer. There, he could potentially meet bilaterally with US and Japanese leaders. Amid the diplomatic ambiguity, analysts in China were sanguine about Beijing-Seoul ties, while Japanese observers were more circumspect over bilateral relations. In a congratulatory message to Lee, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that he attaches 'great importance' to China-South Korea relations. The two countries, he said, are close neighbours and partners that have overcome ideological and social differences in the 33 years since establishing diplomatic ties to develop stable and healthy relations. This partnership 'not only improved the well-being of the citizens in both countries, but also promoted regional peace and stability', Xi added, according to state media reports. 'China is willing to work with South Korea to adhere to the original intention of the establishment of diplomatic ties and firmly follow the rules of good neighbourliness and friendship,' Xi said, noting that this is to the benefit of both countries at a time of growing regional and international uncertainty. Over in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivered a similar message of working together as 'partners' and close neighbours to tackle global challenges, as the countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties in 2025. 'The importance of holding summit talks at an early date and engaging in 'shuttle diplomacy' won't change,' Ishiba said, referring to the practice of the leaders regularly visiting each other's countries, while expressing his hopes to 'further invigorate bilateral exchanges' at all levels. Yet, Japanese officials are wary that Lee's election would portend a dramatic shift in bilateral ties, given that he has said he would broach wartime issues over Japan's colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945, and the territorial dispute over the Dokdo/Takeshima islets. This is especially since 2025 marks the 80th year since Japan's wartime surrender, an anniversary year that could be weaponised to stoke tensions by raising historical grievances. Japan's position is that all wartime reparations have been 'completely and finally' settled under a 1965 agreement to normalise ties, with Tokyo paying US$500 million (worth about US$5 billion today, or S$6.4 billion) in grants and low-interest long-term loans to South Korea. But past South Korean administrations have repeatedly brought up historical issues, including comfort women and wartime labour, casting a pall over bilateral relations. 'Even if the administration takes a conciliatory stance towards Japan at the start, it could gradually evolve into a hardline stance towards Japan,' a Japanese Foreign Ministry official was quoted as telling the Mainichi newspaper. Another official was cautiously optimistic, saying it would be foolhardy to stoke anti-Japan sentiment at this time, given the positive public opinion. North Korea's military involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine also means that geopolitical calculations would have changed, the official was cited as saying. Kobe University's Professor Kan Kimura told The Straits Times that the way forward is unpredictable, given that invoking history would be a non-starter for Japan. 'Lee's language over history and territorial disputes is going to be provocative,' he said. 'The question is whether both countries can delink history with economic and security issues.' He saw it in Seoul's interests to maintain close ties with Tokyo, saying: 'Given that South Korean public opinion towards China is worsening, North Korea is refusing to engage in dialogue with South Korea, and the US is exerting pressure including through tariffs, objectively speaking, South Korea has almost no diplomatic options.' Analysts in China told ST that ties will likely thaw between Beijing and Seoul under Lee, whom they expect will strike a better balance amid US-China competition. Associate Professor Zhang Guangxin at Zhejiang Gongshang University's East Asian Institute in Hangzhou noted that despite Yoon's pivot to the US that had chilled bilateral relations with China, trade between the two countries remains robust. Exports from South Korea to China grew 6.6 per cent in 2024 from a year ago, which underscores the robust trade relations, Prof Zhang noted. 'Lee's clear victory over the People Power Party (which Yoon belonged to) shows the South Korean public's desire for economic stability,' he said. Professor Kim Chang Hyun of the China-Europe International Business School in Shanghai, meanwhile, said business elites in South Korea no longer see China solely as a big market for their products but also as 'an important partner to learn from', pointing to China's advances in green technology and artificial intelligence. The two experts said that public opinion in South Korea towards the US is likely deteriorating, given US President Donald Trump's demands that Seoul pay more for defence, and the threat of 'reciprocal tariffs' of 25 per cent. Students from South Korea – the third-largest source of foreign students to the US – are also facing heightened uncertainty over Trump's immigration policies. 'There will be some rebalancing in public opinion in South Korea towards the US now,' Prof Kim said. - The Straits Times/ANN
The Star
41 minutes ago
- The Star
Beijing slams Rubio 'attack' on China after Tiananmen Square remarks
BEIJING: Beijing hit back Wednesday (June 4) at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (pic) for saying that the world will "never forget" the deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, describing his remarks as an "attack" on China. Chinese troops and tanks forcibly cleared peaceful protesters from Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, after weeks-long demonstrations demanding greater political freedoms. The exact toll is unknown but hundreds died, with some estimates exceeding 1,000 people. China's communist rulers have since sought to erase any public mention of the crackdown, with censors scrubbing all online references and the foreign media warned over its coverage of the anniversary. Police were seen by AFP on Wednesday at the entrance to Wan'an Cemetery, a site in west Beijing where victims of the crackdown are known to be buried. Officers were also posted at several intersections leading into Tiananmen Square on Chang'an Avenue, a broad thoroughfare that is placed under tight security throughout the year. On Wednesday evening, a line of buses and a cherry picker partially blocked screens at the German and Canadian embassies showing images of candles, a symbol commonly used to pay tribute to Tiananmen victims. - 'Never forget' - Rubio said in a statement the "world will never forget" what happened on June 4, even as Beijing "actively tries to censor the facts". "Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989," Rubio said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian hit back during a Wednesday briefing in the capital, saying Beijing had "lodged a solemn protest" over the American politician's comments. "The erroneous statements by the US side maliciously distort historical facts, deliberately attack China's political system and developmental path, and seriously interfere in China's internal affairs," Lin said. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te echoed Rubio's remarks, vowing to preserve the memory of victims of the bloody crackdown. "Authoritarian governments often choose to be silent and forget history; democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who have contributed to the ideal of human rights and their dreams," Lai said on Facebook. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to seize the democratic island by force. - 'Reaffirm our commitment' - In Hong Kong, jailed activist Chow Hang-tung began a 36-hour hunger strike on Wednesday, a dogged attempt to individually commemorate the anniversary in a city that once hosted huge public remembrances. The former lawyer used to help organise an annual vigil that drew tens of thousands to the city's Victoria Park. Hong Kong had been the only place under Chinese rule where commemoration of the crackdown was tolerated. Slogans at the candlelight vigil sometimes called for democracy in China and an end to one-party rule. But after huge and sometimes violent protests roiled the city in 2019, Beijing brought in a wide-ranging national security law that has quashed political dissent. The public memorial has effectively been banned and Chow imprisoned, facing a potential life sentence on subversion charges. On Wednesday, AFP journalists saw dozens of police patrolling the district around the park. Over the last few years, activists have been detained for "offences in connection with seditious intention" around the anniversary. In a social media post, Chow said her hunger strike would "commemorate this day and reaffirm our commitment". She called the city's national security officers "real 'criminals'" and urged authorities to apologise to her over her "wrongful" imprisonment. "History tells us that (the apology) will likely take a very long time -- the Tiananmen Mothers have been waiting for 36 years and still have not received an apology," she said, referring to an activist group made up of families of victims of the crackdown. A video featuring 87-year-old Zhang Xianling, whose 19-year-old son was killed in 1989, circulated online last week. China's authorities have never addressed the group's plea for dialogue around the issue -- instead, they have used all means to monitor and wiretap members of the Tiananmen Mothers, Zhang said. "The lights in Victoria Park may have been blown out by the gales, but the sparks of justice will glow in the hearts of every conscientious person," she added. At a vigil Wednesday on Taipei's Liberty Square, 20-year-old American student Lara Waldron told AFP: "I feel like this June 4 is very close to me right now. "As a college student, I'm of the age of many organisers and participants -- people (who) lost their lives in Tiananmen." - AFP
