REPORT: Preparing for Trump 2.0
Reports
Preparing For Trump 2.0: Seeking Opportunities and Aligning Expectations in the Asia-Pacific
By Susan A. Thornton and Emily Sparkman January 2025The NCAFP’s Forum on Asia Pacific Security (FAPS) organized a high-level delegation of experts and former U.S. government officials to visit Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul for in-depth meetings with officials and other counterparts in December 2024. The NCAFP presents the following policy recommendations and conclusions:
- Regional leaders hoped the incoming U.S. administration would continue strengthening alliances, maintain open channels of communication to avoid misunderstandings, and not turn away from global leadership. They believed there could be new opportunities in Trump’s unconventional approach to problems, but they worried about changing U.S. attitudes to global leadership and envisioned a difficult period ahead.
- The impression from discussions in both Beijing and Taipei was that both sides are generally seeking to reduce cross-Strait tensions and stabilize relations for now as they focus on other pressing challenges. The NCAFP delegation strongly advocated for opening more channels directly across the Strait, especially between designated representatives of authorities, but also by removing recently imposed obstacles to people-to-people exchanges.
- The U.S., Japan, and South Korea should also remain resolute in their commitment to address common regional and global challenges without allowing polarization from respective domestic politics to interfere in the process.
- ROK, Japan, and China should assist with U.S. preparations for a post-Ukraine cease-fire re-engagement with the DPRK to maximize the chances of tangible security gains for the U.S. and the region.