A telephonic conversation between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place, according to Xinhua News. The call was a significant event, occurring during ongoing talks regarding the future of the TikTok app and broader trade negotiations. News reports had indicated that Trump had potentially delayed military aid to Taiwan. The aim seems to be to gain leverage in trade talks, and a summit deal. The Trump administration seems to be softening its stance toward Beijing.
The leaders’ discussion also involved finalizing a deal to address the future of the TikTok app. A law passed earlier required TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a ban in the US. The original deadline for this action has been extended. The US Treasury Secretary announced a framework for a deal. Trade teams from both nations recently held discussions to resolve issues, building upon previous talks. China’s position is that Taiwan is part of China and has vowed to unify with Taiwan, using force if necessary.