Trump invites Xi Jinping to inauguration amid tensions
Reuters
US President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, 2021. The invitation was extended in early November, though it is still uncertain if Xi will attend, with the Chinese embassy in Washington declining to comment.
In a recent interview with NBC News, Trump expressed a cordial relationship with Xi, stating that they had "got along very well" and that they had communicated as recently as this week. Despite this, tensions between the US and China continue to rise, especially over trade and narcotics trafficking.
Trump's administration has taken a hard stance on China, appointing several prominent China hawks to key positions, including Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
The president-elect has also been vocal about imposing additional tariffs on Chinese goods unless Beijing takes stronger action to curb the trafficking of fentanyl, a highly addictive narcotic.
In response, China's state-run media has warned that a tariff war could harm both economies, reflecting the growing strain in the bilateral relationship. Trump had previously threatened tariffs in excess of 60% on Chinese imports during his campaign, signaling that trade tensions are unlikely to ease in the coming months.
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