The country’s new president rolled out the red carpet for China’s leader, Xi Jinping, and President Trump this week, but the superpower rivalry is making it harder to balance relations.

Amid skyrocketing demand for artificial intelligence systems, the chip-making giant has been thrust into the economic feud between Beijing and Washington.

At an Asia-Pacific summit, the Chinese leader urged countries to “resist unilateral bullying,” an appeal that seemed at odds with his country’s recent actions.

President Trump traveled to Asia to be a statesman, a showman and a traveling salesman, depending on the audience.

The leaders of Canada and China met for the first time in eight years to try to reset relations after years of acrimony.

China agreed to suspend for a year some of its limits on exports of rare earth metals, while the U.S. halved its fentanyl-related tariffs.

It needs the United States for defense and has spent billions building factories in America. But a Trump trade deal this week with China could erase a Korean edge in the U.S. market.

A preliminary tariff deal with President Trump called for a large investment in the United States, while China has warned Seoul not to side with Washington.

Concern is increasing throughout Southeast Asia as U.S. officials, intent on slowing China, have yet to say how they will define the origin country of imports.

From Kuala Lumpur to Gyeongju, President Trump is casting himself as a deal-maker and peace negotiator, while a wary region looks for tariff relief and steadier ties.