US media said that Trump began his Asian tour in Malaysia with a big deal.
President Donald Trump plans to enhance his reputation as an international dealmaker on Sunday by consolidating trade agreements with Malaysia and overseeing the signing of an expanded ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand. Earlier this year, the two countries had small-scale clashes over a disputed border. These two agreements may be finalized during Trump's attendance at the ASEAN annual meeting held in Kuala Lumpur. This is the first stop of his trip across three Asian countries, followed by visits to Japan and South Korea.
The Republican president is scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur around 10 a.m. local time. He will meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, then attend the ceremony including Cambodia and Thailand, and later have dinner with regional leaders.
The US president does not always attend this summit, and Trump only attended once during his first term. However, he told reporters on Air Force One that he wanted to come because Anwar helped resolve the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. "I told the Malaysian leader that he is a very good person, 'I owe you a favor.'” Trump said.
In the five-day battle in July, dozens of people were killed, and thousands were displaced. Cambodia and Thailand have a territorial dispute, and violent incidents occasionally break out along the border. Trump threatened to withhold the trade agreement if the two countries did not stop the war, and this economic approach is considered to have driven the negotiations.
Since then, a fragile ceasefire agreement has been maintained. "In fact, Trump holds the tariff card, which is actually very important," said Ouvirak, chairman of the Phnom Penh Future Forum think tank. "This may be the main reason, if not the only reason, but it is definitely the main reason for both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire," he said. Now, "there is a ceremony where Trump appears in front of the camera," so he can be "seen as the champion of ending the war and conflict," which also gives him more leverage for the "Nobel Peace Prize." Trump has clearly campaigned for this honor and continues to add to the list of conflicts he has helped resolve or claimed to end.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nithiyanand Pahalakula told reporters on Saturday that the "joint statement" to be signed on Sunday will show Thailand and Cambodia "commitment to rebuilding bilateral relations."
He also said that an agreement has been reached to address Thailand's concerns about landmines and heavy artillery along the border and other issues. "This is not the end," Nithiyanand said. "The work has just begun." Trump expressed confidence in finalizing the trade agreement during this visit. Negotiations with Japan and South Korea - two long-term allies and trading partners - are ongoing.
In Southeast Asia, the trade negotiations with Malaysia seem to be progressing faster, and an agreement is expected to be signed during Trump's visit to Kuala Lumpur. "We have made agreements with many people, and they are all very good agreements," Trump said in front of reporters on Air Force One. A leader who will be absent from the summit is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although the two had a close relationship during Trump's first term, their relationship has become more tense recently. Trump caused dissatisfaction by boasting that he resolved the recent India-Pakistan conflict, and he also increased tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846992680528908/
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