Trump skips Asia summits, closing door on Xi meeting

With East Asia Summit and APEC out, G-20 seen as last option for China deal

U.S. President Donald Trump at the East Asia Summit in Manila, the Philippines, on Nov. 14, 2017.

ARIANA KING, Nikkei staff writer

September 1, 2018 06:53 JST

NEW YORK -- U.S. President Donald Trump has canceled plans to travel to Singapore and Papua New Guinea in November and will send Vice President Mike Pence in his place to attend a series of summits, the White House announced on Friday.

Trump was scheduled to meet with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and attend the East Asia Summit, both in Singapore, followed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Papua New Guinea.