Vance, Zheng Discuss Fentanyl, Trade, and TikTok

U.S. Vice President-elect JD Vance met with China's Vice President Han Zheng, discussing critical issues such as fentanyl, trade balance, and regional stability, ahead of the Trump-Vance administration's inauguration. The meeting, described as the most high-profile solo engagement for Vance since the election, highlights ongoing U.S.-China tensions over trade and the opioid crisis, with Trump threatening substantial tariffs if China doesn't curb fentanyl exports. Despite differences, Han expressed a willingness to foster stable U.S.-China relations, emphasizing shared interests. The meeting occurred as Beijing faced scrutiny over its ties to TikTok, which narrowly avoided a U.S. ban following Trump's assurances to reverse it. This diplomatic engagement comes after a recent Trump-Xi phone call, marking the first direct communication since Trump's election, and amid Trump's plans for a potential visit to China, his second since 2017.