Trump Calls Xi Jinping First "Expect Trade Balance"...Xi Jinping "Taiwan needs to be careful"

Trump calls President Xi Jinping for first phone call since presidential election
Trump also suggests possible cooperation with Xi after presidential election
Trump "Referring to Fentanyl, TikTok"...TikTok's possible relief

[Anchor]
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump first called Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss pending issues ahead of his inauguration.

When Trump emphasized the trade balance between the U.S. and China, President Xi fought a tense battle as he was told to be cautious about Taiwan issues.

This is Washington correspondent Hong Sang-hee.

[Reporter]
U.S. President-elect Trump called Chinese President Xi Jinping three days before his inauguration.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump specifically said he had "discussed trade balance," apparently expressing his willingness to ease the trade deficit with China, which he emphasized along with his pledge to impose 60% tariffs during the presidential election.

President Xi Jinping responded to the Taiwan issue.

"The Taiwan issue concerns China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said, adding he hoped the U.S. would handle it carefully.

He also called for mutual respect for each other's core interests and grave concerns, saying, "It is difficult for the two powers to avoid disagreement."

Taiwan emphasized that it is a key issue for China that cannot be conceded.

As for the U.S.-China economy mentioned by Trump, he said, "The essence is reciprocity and win-win," and "confrontation and conflict should not be the choice of the two countries."

In his first press conference since winning the presidential election last month, Trump also hinted at the possibility of cooperation with President Xi, saying, "Let's work together to solve the world's problems."

[Donald Trump/ U.S. President-elect (last month, 16th): China and the U.S. can solve all the world's problems together. He is a friend of mine. We talked for hours and are amazing people. The media will hate this, but Xi is an amazing person.]

In the phone call, comments on Chinese fentanyl raw materials and "TikTok," which is on the verge of service interruption in the U.S. on the 19th, also drew attention, with Trump recently suggesting a possible TikTok rescue.

[Donald Trump/ U.S. President-elect] TikTok is influential, and we'll watch. There's a warm feeling in the back of my mind about TikTok, as approval ratings have risen 35 to 36 points among young people in this presidential election.

As President-elect Trump and President Xi Jinping fight for supremacy between the two countries by presenting major agendas, a full-fledged U.S.-China hegemony competition is expected to begin shortly after taking office.

I'm Hong Sang-hee from Washington.