Trump Plays Nice With Asian Allies Stung by Repeated Threats

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping shake hands following a bilateral meeting in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30. — Donald Trump and Xi Jinping shake hands following a bilateral meeting in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30.
Photographer: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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By Alastair Gale, Philip Heijmans, and Eric Martin

November 2, 2025 at 12:10 AM UTC

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After months of tariff threats and brow-beating on defense spending, American allies in Asia had ample reason to be wary of President Donald Trump. But he ended up using a three-nation tour of the region to hammer home a clear message: The US still has your back.