Trump Secures Hundreds‑Billion Asia Deals

President Donald Trump’s Oct. 24–29 Asia tour of Malaysia, Japan and South Korea culminated in a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan and produced a flurry of defense, trade and technology agreements and critical‑minerals access deals collectively worth hundreds of billions of dollars. The trip yielded large investment and supply‑chain commitments with Japan and South Korea, secured semiconductor and pharmaceutical cooperation, and broadened U.S. access to rare earths. Trump paired economic moves—signing trade pacts with Cambodia and Malaysia and framework agreements with Thailand and Vietnam—with security assurances, reaffirming commitments to South Korea (including approval of nuclear‑powered submarines) and pledging strong support for Japan while preserving backing for Taiwan. U.S. defense officials also announced longer‑term deals and resumed military exercises in the region. Reactions were mixed, with critics warning the new framework may concede leverage to Beijing while supporters said the tour strengthened ties across ASEAN as China advanced its own diplomacy during the week.