Donald Trump's Asian visit: All you need to know

Donald Trump has begun his Asian trip on November 5, and during this visit, he is expected to strengthen Washington DC's already healthy relationship with Seoul to curb the nuclear threats posed by Pyongyang

Donald Trump
Reuters

US President Donald Trump will visit five Asian countries including China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines, marking his longest trip as President and his first to Asia.

The main agenda of Donald Trump's visit is seeking support from key Asian powers to form an alliance with the US in an effort to curb the nuclear ambitions of Kim Jong-un's North Korea.

Earlier, H R McMaster, the National Security Advisor has revealed that the two main goals of this Asian trip are 'free and open Indo-Pacific region' and 'advancing the prosperity of America through fare and reciprocal economic and trade practices.'

McMaster also added that there is no point in expecting Donald Trump cutting down his harsh rhetoric on North Korea during the Asian trip. According to McMaster, the chances of Trump modulating his language is pretty less.

Hawaii sojourn

However, a stopover at Hawaii on Friday, November 3 will precede the five-nation Asian trip. It is slated to be strategically significant due to the presence of the US Pacific Command, which will come into prime focus once tensions in the region escalate. Within a few hours from now, the US President will visit the historic Pearl Harbor where he will receive the USS Arizona memorial. He will also meet the US Pacific Command and receive a briefing.

Donald Trump's Asian trip schedule

From November 5th to 6th, Trump will visit Japan. During his Japan visit, Trump will conduct talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and will discuss the major issues in the area. He will also meet family members of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.

On November 7, Donald Trump will make his most crucial visit to South Korea. During the visit, he will meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in and will talk about the escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula. Donald Trump is also expected to deliver a speech in the South Korean National Assembly. The US President will also talk about the military actions, which should be taken when Pyongyang drops its first missile either on South Korea or on the US mainland.

Trump will raise the North Korean issue when he meets the Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 8 in Beijing. The US president will also discuss trade issues with China as the Asian country has continuously denied US firms to access Chinese financial services.

The President will also seek an alliance with China to curb the nuclear ambitions of North Korea. During the talk with Xi Jinping, Donald Trump may ask to pack all North Korean workers in China and enforce sanctions on Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang.

Donald Trump will visit Vietnam on November 10 and will conclude his Asian tour in the Philippines on November 12, with a gala dinner being hosted in association with the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He will also meet the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ MORE