After the 2024 U.S. elections, leaders from across the Asia-Pacific, including South Korea, Japan, China and Australia, get ready for Trump's return to the White House.
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00:00If there's one thing the leaders of Asia and the Pacific have in common this week,
00:03it's the need to get ready for Donald Trump's return to the White House.
00:07Across social media, presidents and prime ministers from Taiwan, to Indonesia, to New Zealand,
00:14posted their congratulations.
00:16There were also public statements from leaders like Australia's Anthony Albanese.
00:21I look forward to talking with President Trump and working with him in the interests of both of our nations.
00:27President Trump has run a campaign based on change and he's made it clear he's going to do things differently.
00:33So we shouldn't be surprised as things change.
00:36But equally, we should be really confident in ourselves and our place in the world as well,
00:43and our ability to deliver on our interests together as Australians.
00:49And some, like Japan's Ishiba Shigeru and South Korea's Yun Suk-yol,
00:53spoke directly with the U.S. president-elect, focusing on security issues and common threats like North Korea.
00:59We have agreed to work together to advance the U.S.-Japan alliance to a higher level.
01:11We have also agreed to build a strong partnership with the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific and other global areas.
01:25And, rather than just talking about North Korea, I was wondering if you have any interest in North Korea.
01:37But alongside the congratulations are also hints of concern in the region.
01:41Analysts point out that Trump takes a transactional approach to foreign policy,
01:45and some worry about his erratic side, a trait that could deeply impact Taiwan.
01:50But one thing that does make me nervous about Trump vis-a-vis the Taiwan Strait
01:55is his reliance on unpredictability, his reliance on being something of a chaotic actor
02:03in a situation that is finely balanced, that requires a profound reading of very subtle signals
02:12between Taiwan, between the United States, between China.
02:16Then there's concern about what lays ahead for the United States' chief rival in the region, China.
02:21Trump has campaigned for heavy tariffs on Chinese goods.
02:24Though China's President Xi Jinping says he believes he can find the right way to get along with Trump,
02:29the country's foreign ministry has warned against renewed trade friction.
02:41One thing these leaders know from Trump's first term is that the U.S. foreign policy
02:45they'll be dealing with from late January won't be what they've gotten used to over
02:49the past four years. Fu Huahong and John Ventri asked for Taiwan Plus.