Trump to visit Philippines, neighbouring Asian countries

US President Donald Trump will visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines from November 3-14, the White House said on Friday.

The White House had earlier confirmed Trump's plans to travel to China, South Korea and Japan and on Friday said he also would travel to Vietnam to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and to the Philippines to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Efe reports.

One of the objectives of Trump's Asia tour will be to "strengthen the international resolve to confront the North Korean threat and ensure the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," the White House said in a statement.

Amid the growing nuclear threat from North Korea, which has conducted several ballistic missile tests in 2017, Trump said Tuesday that the US was prepared to take "devastating" military action against the secretive Asian nation if necessary.

Trump's Asia visit also will show his "continued commitment to the alliances and partnerships of the US in the region... and emphasize the importance of fair and reciprocal economic ties with America's trade partners," the White House said.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be in China until Sunday to make preparations for Trump's visit to that Asian nation.

Source: Khaleej Times