US President Donald Trump will be heading to Asia for the first time in his second term. He is slated to meet with new Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump will leave Washington on Friday. He will join leaders at a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, in Malaysia on Sunday before making a three-day visit to Japan for scheduled talks with Takaichi on Tuesday.
Next up is South Korea for a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC. He will meet with South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung and hold talks with Xi.
National security expert Alexander B. Gray, who served as a deputy assistant to Trump during his first term, says the trip shows that the US is still strongly committed to the Indo-Pacific.
Gray said, "President Trump, in his first term, I think, demonstrated conclusively that the United States will remain security guarantor for our friends and our allies in the region."
He also said, "I think the president's going to leave the region having reinforced the message."
Gray added that the president is mindful of the economic, military and political rivalry with Xi.
He said, "I think the president is very attuned to the fact that China continues to be the preeminent national security threat to the United States."
He also said that the meeting with Takaichi will be an opportunity for the two to build up a close bond, like the one Trump shared with late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

Quiz 1:
Who is US President Donald Trump scheduled to meet in China during his Asia trip?
A. South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung
B. New Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae
C. Malaysian Leader at ASEAN meeting
D. Chinese President Xi Jinping

Quiz 2:
Which organization will US President Donald Trump join leaders at during his first day in Asia?
A. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
B. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
C. G7 Summit
D. United Nations General Assembly

Quiz 3:
According to national security expert Alexander B. Gray, what message does President Trump aim to reinforce during his Asia trip?
A. The United States is no longer a security guarantor for its friends and allies in the region.
B. The United States will continue to be economically competitive with China.
C. President Trump has no attunement towards the economic, military and political rivalry with Xi.
D. President Trump aims to weaken the Indo-Pacific commitment.

[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: D
Quiz 2: A
Quiz 3: D