President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a crucial phone call, Xinhua News reported. The conversation occurred amidst delicate negotiations concerning a potential deal for the TikTok app and broader trade discussions. Reports indicated Trump had been considering delaying military aid to Taiwan, possibly to influence trade talks with China. A summit deal between the two leaders was also being pursued.
The primary focus of the call included reaching an agreement to separate the TikTok app from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to prevent a US ban. A previous law mandated the sale of TikTok or a ban in the US due to national security concerns. The US Treasury Secretary confirmed the existence of a framework agreement. Negotiations were held to resolve the issue, and a basic consensus was reached. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and has vowed to unify with Taiwan, using force if necessary.