US President Donald Trump is planning to include billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk in his upcoming visit to the Philippines and China next week, highlighting Musk's growing role as an adviser on economic and national security issues.
Musk, who leads SpaceX and Tesla, is considered an important figure for the administration because of his influence in key technology industries and his business interests, according to administration officials who briefed reporters anonymously on Friday.
The trip comes amid growing controversy surrounding Nvidia and allegations involving its former CEO, Jensen Huang, who was reportedly removed from his position following revelations of an alleged extramarital relationship with Alice Huang, accused of having connections to Chinese intelligence. Beijing has rejected claims that Alice Huang is a spy. Her company, Megaspeed, previously faced allegations of facilitating the shipment of Nvidia's advanced semiconductor chips into China.
Despite the controversy, Trump has no intention of raising the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their upcoming meeting. Administration officials also said they do not anticipate any retaliation from Beijing if Washington introduces additional measures to prevent China from obtaining or using restricted advanced computer chips.
The White House believes the Nvidia controversy should not affect Trump's diplomatic visit. Officials stressed that American export-control policies are not subject to negotiations with other countries. Meanwhile, administration advisers are considering additional measures to strengthen existing trade restrictions, including tighter export licensing requirements and steps to prevent Chinese companies from accessing advanced American chips remotely through internet-based services.
A major highlight of the visit is expected to be a historic trilateral meeting involving Trump, Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Discussions on reducing nuclear weapons are expected to be a central part of the gathering.
However, the White House has no current plans for Trump to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, despite continuing concerns in Washington and among U.S. allies over North Korea's expanding nuclear weapons programme.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday, where he will meet leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). During his stay in Manila, he is also expected to sign a trade agreement with Thailand and hold discussions with representatives of the Quad, a strategic partnership involving the United States, India, Australia and Japan.
On Wednesday, Trump will travel to Shenzhen, China, to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. There, he is expected to hold his third face-to-face meeting this year with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Following their bilateral discussions, Trump, Xi and Putin are scheduled to participate in the trilateral meeting.
The leaders are also expected to discuss the ongoing conflict involving Iran. However, according to administration officials, Russia's war in Ukraine is unlikely to be included in the formal agenda.
Musk will not participate in the trilateral meeting. His satellite internet company, Starlink, has played a significant role in supporting Ukraine's communications capabilities during Russia's invasion, making his absence from the high-level discussions particularly noteworthy.
Overall, Trump's upcoming Asia tour is expected to focus on trade, regional partnerships, technology security and international diplomacy, while the administration appears determined to keep the Nvidia controversy separate from its discussions with Beijing.