Donald Trump to Visit Philippines and China for Summits

President Donald Trump will travel to Manila, Philippines, on November 16 to attend the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. This marks his first visit to the Philippines since 2017 and follows an invitation extended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a July 2025 White House trip. The summit will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, and the Philippine government has declared the three summit days as special non-working days in Metro Manila to manage security and traffic.

Following the ASEAN meetings, Trump will travel to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from November 17 to 19. While in China, he is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping for the third time in 2026. The two leaders are attempting to mend relations, having recently established an artificial intelligence alert system and extended a trade truce until January 10, 2027. However, tensions remain over the status of Taiwan, rare earths, and technology chip export controls.

The White House stated the trip aims to advance national security and economic objectives while demonstrating U.S. commitment to Southeast Asian allies. The diplomatic push occurs as Washington faces strained relations with India over tariffs and Russian oil purchases, with a critical October 18 deadline approaching under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 regarding energy import duties.