Former President Trump Claims Progress in Call with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping, Including on TikTok
In a call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday, September 17, former President Donald Trump claimed to have made progress on several key issues, including the fate of popular short video platform TikTok. According to Trump, the two leaders discussed trade, fentanyl, and other pressing bilateral concerns.
Trump's statement came after a meeting between the two leaders, which was reportedly productive and yielded significant results. "I just completed a very productive call with President Xi of China," Trump said in a statement. "We made progress on many very important issues including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the Chinese people out of poverty, and other matters." The former president also announced that he will meet Xi this fall and travel to China early next year.
The talks between Trump and Xi are seen as significant, given the ongoing tensions between the two countries on trade and security issues. According to a report by NPR Politics, the fate of TikTok was one of the key topics discussed during the call. The social media platform has been at the center of a long-standing dispute between the US and China, with Washington pushing for its sale or ban due to concerns over data security.
TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has faced intense scrutiny from regulators in both countries, who have accused it of sharing user data with the Chinese government. The platform has denied these allegations, but the controversy has led to a number of high-profile lawsuits and investigations.
Trump's announcement comes as a surprise to many observers, given his previous stance on TikTok. In 2020, he signed an executive order banning the app from operating in the US unless it was sold to an American company. However, the ban was later blocked by a federal court.
The current status of TikTok remains uncertain, with the platform continuing to operate in the US despite ongoing regulatory challenges. According to a report by NPR News, Trump's statement suggests that progress has been made on the issue, but details are scarce.
Experts say that any agreement on TikTok would require significant concessions from both sides. "The Chinese government is unlikely to give up its control over TikTok without getting something in return," said Dr. Emily Miao, a China expert at Harvard University. "Any deal would need to address the concerns of both countries and provide a clear path forward for the platform."
As for Trump's plans to meet Xi this fall and travel to China early next year, details are still unclear. However, the former president's announcement has sparked renewed interest in the ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two countries.
In conclusion, Trump's claim of progress in his call with Xi Jinping has sent shockwaves through the international community, with many observers waiting to see how this will impact the complex web of issues between the US and China.
This story was compiled from reports by NPR Politics and NPR News.
