David Jackson

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Trump, who spent months on the campaign trail criticizing China's trade practices and military posture, is planning to host Chinese President Xi Jinping soon, a White House spokesman said Monday.

"Planning is ongoing" with respect to the timing and location, press secretary Sean Spicer said, adding that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will discuss the logistics of a Trump-Xi meeting during his visit to China this week.

The purpose would be "to help diffuse tensions over North Korea and the recent deployment of the THAAD military battery to South Korea," Spicer said, as well as "a broad range of topics of mutual concern."

Making trade policy a major part of his campaign, Trump accused Chinese of manipulating its currency and essentially stealing American jobs.

Shortly after the election, Trump spoke with the president of Taiwan in a move that appeared to question the United States' long-standing "One China" policy that recognizes only the Beijing regime as the nation's true government.

Trump backtracked during a February phone call with Xi, telling his Chinese counterpart he would recognize the "One China" policy.

China has accused the new Trump administration of stirring up unnecessary tensions.

In a Feb. 9 statement on their phone call, the White House said that Trump and Xi invited each other to their respective countries.

"President Trump and President Xi look forward to further talks with very successful outcomes," the statement said.

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