President Donald Trump thanked service members and families for their support and dedication to the mission during a speech at Osan Air Base, South Korea, June 30, 2019. (Stars and Stripes)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — U.S. friends and allies in Asia congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his victory on the days after his opponent, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, conceded that the former president won a second term on Tuesday.
Trump’s return to the White House in January may bring a change in the United States’ approach to foreign policy, where conflict with China seems a single collision or stray round away.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose government recently struck an early deal with President Joe Biden’s administration over the cost to keep 28,500 U.S. troops in the country, expressed optimism over the future of the U.S. alliance.
Yoon phoned Trump with congratulations that day and spoke for about 12 minutes on national security and economic issues, he said at a news conference Thursday.
He said they also discussed North Korea’s continuing weapons tests, including an intercontinental ballistic missile launched Oct. 30 that reportedly exceeded previous performance records.
Trump said the North’s actions are difficult to believe and agreed that he and Yoon should meet soon to discuss a way forward, the South Korean president said.
During his first term, Trump frequently complained that South Korea, then under Yoon’s predecessor, Moon Jae-in, was paying too little in exchange for the U.S. military presence and seemed to threaten to withdraw American forces.
“President Trump is a courageous leader who can negotiate peace even with his hostile counterparts,” Moon said in a Facebook post Wednesday congratulating Trump for his election victory.
President Donald Trump jokes around with service members as Lt. Gen. Jerry Martinez, then-U.S. Forces Japan commander, welcomes him and first lady Melania Trump to Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 5, 2017. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)
President Donald Trump speaks to service members at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 5, 2017. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)
President Donald Trump eats lunch with U.S. and South Korean troops at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Nov. 7, 2017. (Stars and Stripes)
Of all his relationships with foreign leaders, Trump’s exchanges with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un generated more headlines than any other, save Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump went from promising “fire and fury” for the “little rocket man” to exchanging “love letters” and crossing the Demilitarized Zone with Kim at the Joint Security Area, where the two sides face off.
As of Thursday afternoon, North Korea’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency, had not acknowledged Trump’s win.
From Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba began a five-minute phone call with Trump at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs news release.
Ishiba congratulated Trump on his victory and the two confirmed they would work to bring the U.S.-Japan alliance to “new heights,” according to a read-out of the call. They also agreed to meet in person at the earliest opportunity that’s “convenient for both sides.”
Japan, facing a growing and assertive Chinese military, has spent ever greater sums in its defense budget the past several years while seeking tighter bonds and deeper cooperation with its American military partners.
From the Philippines, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said “Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed,” in a post on social platform X on Wednesday evening.
“We look forward to working with President Trump on a wide range of issues that will yield mutual benefits for two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, a common vision, and a long history of working together,” Marcos wrote.
Under Biden, the U.S. has repeatedly expressed support for the Philippines, a longstanding ally, as it parries territorial challenges off its western coast from China’s coast guard and maritime militia.
“I have personally met President Trump as a young man, so I know that his robust leadership will result in a better future for all of us,” Marcos said.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te also offered Trump congratulations. The island democracy faces direct challenges from China, including military exercises that surround and rehearse invasions of the island. Biden in September promised a substantial, $567 million military aid package to Taiwan.
“I’m confident that the longstanding #Taiwan-US partnership, built on shared values & interests, will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability & lead to greater prosperity for us all,” Lai said in a post Thursday on X.
As of Thursday morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping had yet to comment publicly on the U.S. election results, but the Foreign Ministry posted a statement on its website Wednesday.
“We respect the choice of the American people and express our congratulations to Mr. Trump on his election as president,” it said.
Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
