Group 1 - Trump's Asia trip aims to strengthen ties with allies while pressuring countries like Vietnam and Thailand for trade concessions [2][6] - The core objective in Japan and South Korea is to increase investments in the U.S. and solidify economic ties, while also addressing regional security issues related to China [2][7] - The anticipated U.S.-China talks at the end of the trip are framed as a potential breakthrough amidst ongoing trade tensions and recent U.S. export controls on Chinese companies [2][3] Group 2 - China's response to U.S. pressure includes increasing gold reserves, which have grown for eight consecutive months, indicating a strategic move to build financial security [3][7] - The trend of de-dollarization is accelerating globally, with countries reducing dollar reserves and adopting local currencies for trade, challenging the dominance of the U.S. dollar [9][11] - Japan's commitment to invest $550 billion and South Korea's $350 billion investment are seen as transactional rather than purely friendly gestures, reflecting a complex interplay of interests [9][13]