US President Donald Trump plans to take Elon Musk on a tour of the Philippines and China next week, in a visit that mixes economic interests with national security, according to the Associated Press.
Musk's participation reflects the importance of his companies Tesla and SpaceX in commercial, technological and security relations with Asia.
Trump begins his tour on Tuesday, November 17, from the Philippines, to meet with ASEAN leaders, sign a trade agreement with Thailand, and meet with the leaders of the Quad Alliance (QUAD).
He moves to Shenzhen on Wednesday to attend the APEC summit on November 18 and 19, and hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The tour culminates in a tripartite summit between Trump, Xi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, headed by restrictions on nuclear weapons, with an expected discussion of the war in Iran.
But the glaring question concerns Jensen Huang, NVIDIA's former CEO, who resigned on November 12 amid investigations into suspected links to a Chinese intelligence operation.
Huang's participation has become uncertain despite Trump previously confirming his willingness to accompany him, while the administration has ruled out raising his issue with Beijing, according to Reuters.
Washington is considering toughening export licenses for advanced chips and closing the gaps for Chinese companies to access them remotely, making the technology one of the most prominent areas of economic conflict between the two powers.