On Thursday, March 19, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takai stated that Japan maintains an open attitude towards dialogue with China. Prime Minister Takai made this statement while visiting the White House. This visit marked her first trip to the United States since taking office as the 105th Prime Minister of Japan.
During her meeting with U.S. President Trump, she said, “Japan consistently maintains an open attitude towards dialogue with China. At the same time, we have been handling our relationship with China in a calm manner.” Takai also added, “Furthermore, regarding U.S.-China relations, I sincerely hope that this relationship will contribute to regional security and ensure the stability of the global supply chain.”
The Japanese Prime Minister also pointed out that the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming “serious” and expressed her belief that Trump is the “only” person capable of realizing global peace.
On Thursday, Trump once again criticized China for not participating in escorting operations in the Strait of Hormuz. He mentioned that his scheduled visit to China has been delayed for about “a month and a half” due to war reasons. However, in his next meeting with the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, he will “commend Japan.”
“We have established tremendous support and good relations with Japan,” Trump stated in the Oval Office of the White House. “And I believe… they are really taking proactive measures.”
Trump reiterated that oil prices will eventually fall due to the end of the conflict with Iran. “I thought the situation could be worse at the time. Now it’s not bad,” he said. “After the conflict ends, the world will be much safer. The Prime Minister also agrees with my view.”
The U.S.-Japan summit was initially planned to take place a few days before the meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping. Initially, it was speculated that the U.S. and Japan would announce the reinforcement of their security alliance amidst increased pressure from Beijing on Tokyo. However, Trump’s visit to China was delayed due to the conflict with Iran before the summit took place.
Since Takai became Prime Minister, China has strongly expressed dissatisfaction with her statements regarding Taiwan. During a parliamentary debate, Takai was asked how Japan would respond if Beijing attacked Taiwan and the U.S. forces defending Taiwan. The Prime Minister responded that it would “pose a survival threat to Japan.” Her remarks were interpreted as indicating that Japan would have the right to exercise collective self-defense and order the Self-Defense Forces to defend the U.S. forces stationed in Taiwan.
Subsequently, China launched attacks on the Japanese Prime Minister, leading to escalated tensions in Sino-Japanese relations.