Fentanyl, TikTok, and Taiwan: What Did Trump and Xi Jinping Discuss?

In a phone conversation on January 17, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un discussed a wide range of issues, including trade, the fight against illegal fentanyl trafficking, the future of TikTok, and other important topics. The conversation took place just days before Trump's inauguration, during which he pledged to introduce new sanctions and other restrictive measures in relation to China, as reported by NewsBox.

Kim Jong-un congratulated Trump on his election victory and called for an improvement in bilateral relations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported. The phone call occurred on the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law banning TikTok if the platform is not sold to an American company, according to The Associated Press.

“We both attach great importance to interactions, hoping for a good start to China-U.S. relations during the new presidency in the U.S., and we are ready to ensure significant progress in China-U.S. relations from a new starting point,” — stated Xi Jinping during the phone call.

Donald Trump confirmed the fact of the conversation with Xi Jinping on his platform Truth Social, characterizing it as “very beneficial for both China and the U.S.”. He specified that the discussed topics included trade issues, fentanyl, TikTok, and other matters.

“President Xi and I will do everything we can to make the world a more peaceful and safer place!” — Trump wrote.

Despite the statements about striving for peace, Trump's pre-election campaign was marked by harsh rhetoric regarding China. He threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese goods by 60%, and then promised an additional 10% increase in connection with China's accusations of failure to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the U.S. Experts also predict increased control over the export of American technologies to China. At the same time, Trump promised to “save TikTok,” despite previously trying to ban the social network at the beginning of his presidency.

During the phone conversation, Xi Jinping stated that the differences between the two countries are unavoidable, but the key to their resolution is “respect for each other’s core interests and major concerns, and also the search for mutually acceptable solutions.” Xi Jinping suggested that Trump approach the Taiwan issue “with caution,” since it concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing that “confrontation and conflict should not be an option for the two countries.”

Taiwan directed a delegation to Trump’s inauguration. During the phone conversation, Xi Jinping noted that the essence of trade and economic relations between the two countries lies in “mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.”

The leaders of both countries exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and agreed to establish a “strategic communication channel,” according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Craig Singleton, the senior director for the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, underscored the importance of regular communication between the leaders to promote U.S. interests and ensure transparency in competitive relations.