APEC, ASEAN, and the Trump-Xi Meeting: A Conversation with Henrietta Levin and Gregory Poling

In this episode of the China Power podcast, Bonnie Lin hosts Henrietta Levin and Gregory Poling to analyze President Trump's recent trip to Asia and the US-China meeting during APEC. They discuss the surprising absence of Taiwan as a topic in the Trump-Xi meeting and the generally positive reception of Trump's visit in Southeast Asia, despite his limited engagement with ASEAN summits. The conversation explores China's growing influence in the region, marked by economic agreements and a narrative of stability, contrasting with the perceived disruption from the U.S. They also examine the implications of Secretary Hegseth's meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and the potential risks of a U.S.-China G2 dynamic. The discussion further covers the limited outcomes of the Trump-Xi meeting, with China seemingly gaining more, and concludes with a look ahead at key issues like the South China Sea and the implementation of trade agreements.