Trump-Xi Call Marks Rare Breakthrough in US-China Relations, But TikTok Deal Remains Elusive

Trump-Xi Call Thaws US-China Relations, but No Clear TikTok Deal Yet In a phone call on Friday, United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared details of their conversation, marking the first time in three months that the two leaders had spoken directly. While the call was seen as a positive development in thawing US-China relations, experts say that no clear deal has been reached regarding the sale of popular social media app TikTok. According to Trump's post on Truth Social after the call, he said it was "a very good call" and expressed appreciation for the "TikTok approval." However, officials from both sides have yet to confirm any agreement on the sale of the app, which has 170 million US users. Experts say that the phone call between Trump and Xi Jinping is a sign of improved relations between the two countries. "President Xi Jinping is feeling strong enough to confront the US," said Dr. Li Mingjiang, a China expert at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. "He's not as worried about the US as he was before." The call comes at a time when tensions between the US and China have been high over issues such as trade, security, and human rights. However, analysts say that both leaders are trying to improve relations and find common ground. "TikTok is just one aspect of the larger relationship," said Dr. Susan Shirk, a China expert at the University of California, San Diego. "The two countries need to work together on issues like climate change, pandemics, and economic development." Despite the positive tone of the call, experts say that no clear deal has been reached regarding TikTok. "We don't know what was discussed or agreed upon," said Dr. Shirk. "It's too early to tell if there will be a sale or not." The fate of TikTok remains uncertain as both sides continue to negotiate. The US government has been pushing for the app's sale, citing national security concerns, while China has resisted any attempts to control its operations. As the situation unfolds, experts say that it's essential to consider the broader implications of the call and the potential impact on US-China relations. "The phone call between Trump and Xi Jinping is a sign of improved relations," said Dr. Li Mingjiang. "However, we need to be cautious and not get too optimistic. The relationship between the two countries is complex, and there are many challenges ahead." Background: The US government has been pushing for the sale of TikTok since last year, citing national security concerns over data collection and potential ties to the Chinese government. China's ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has resisted any attempts to control its operations. Additional Perspectives: "The call between Trump and Xi Jinping is a positive development," said Dr. Shirk. "However, we need to be realistic about what can be achieved in the short term." "President Xi Jinping's willingness to engage with President Trump is a sign of improved relations," said Dr. Li Mingjiang. "But we should not expect too much too soon." Current Status and Next Developments: As the situation unfolds, experts say that it's essential to continue monitoring developments and considering the broader implications of the call. "The fate of TikTok remains uncertain," said Dr. Shirk. "We need to be patient and wait for more information before making any judgments." *Reporting by Aljazeera.*