Donald Trump

Trump Says Asia Trip Showed Strong US Standing

President Donald Trump says his trip to Asia showed that America's "standing in the world has never been stronger."

Trump spoke Wednesday from the White House about his five-country Asian tour.

Trump also said the U.S. and China agree that a "freeze-for-freeze" agreement with North Korea is not acceptable.

He was referring to a proposal, backed by both China and Russia, whereby the North would freeze its nuclear program in exchange for the U.S. and South Korea stopping military drills.

Trump said Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping recognizes that a nuclear North Korea is a "grave threat." He says, "We agreed that we would not accept a so-called freeze-for-freeze agreement like those that have consistently failed in the past."

China has not made a public disavowal of its past proposal.

Trump said the goal is to "denuclearize" North Korea.

He said time is running out and the U.S. has made clear "all options remain on the table."

Trump declared the trip "tremendously successful" as he hopped on a plane bound for Washington. For all his tough campaign talk on trade, Trump appeared reluctant to take a confrontational stance in Asia.

He cajoled and flattered leaders in Tokyo and Seoul without eliciting firm commitments for a more balanced economic relationship. At a summit in Vietnam, he vowed to hold rising superpower China accountable for unfair business and trade practices. Yet in Beijing, the president said, "I don't blame China" for a growing trade gap.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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