Trump, China’s Xi Speak Ahead of Inauguration

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President-elect Donald Trump vowed to engage closely on major issues in a rare phone call ahead of next week’s inauguration, where Beijing will be represented by its vice president. Xi would have faced political risks by attending the U.S. presidential inauguration himself, particularly after Trump said he would impose additional tariffs on China from the first day of his second term as president. “Although the vice president’s role may not hold significant political power, his presence still matters as a trusted envoy of Xi,” said Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Singapore’s NTU who studies China’s foreign policy. “Han certainly will be able to play the role of an interlocutor and a channel of communication.” Beijing is likely to follow up on Han’s trip by looking to arrange high-level meetings with the Trump administration, such as discussions between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his American counterparts, Loh said.

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