Things heated up between China and Japan recently, especially after Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s comments that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to a military response from Tokyo. It didn’t sit well with Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, who aired out his frustrations during a phone call with President Trump.
According to folks briefed on this call, Xi essentially emphasized China’s claim over Taiwan and urged Trump to recognize their shared responsibilities in maintaining global stability.
That same day, Trump reached out to Takaichi with a message that had a hint of caution. He suggested she ease off on provoking China when talking about Taiwan. While Trump didn’t demand a retraction of her remarks, Japanese officials considered the message concerning, implying that he was keen on dodging any drama that might jeopardize the fresh diplomatic thaw he achieved with Xi last month—part of a deal that included more agricultural purchases from American farmers impacted by the trade war.
In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, Trump reaffirmed that the U.S. relationship with China is vital for both countries, especially for Japan, which he calls a close ally. He expressed optimism around Xi potentially increasing his purchases of U.S. farm products, saying anything beneficial for American farmers benefits him as well.
Trump elaborated that they have made substantial trade agreements with Japan, China, and South Korea and hopes for continued peace.
A spokesperson for PM Takaichi disagreed with the notion that Trump specifically urged her not to provoke Beijing, marking those claims as inaccurate.
This scenario underlines a crucial change in U.S.-China ties; the interlinked nature of trade agreements and Taiwan matters has been front and center as both Trump and Xi gear up for future engagements next year. Official U.S. stance acknowledges but stops short of endorsing China’s claims on Taiwan, as Washington remains committed to supplying Taiwan with defensive resources to prevent any forced outcomes from China.
Trump has commended Takaichi for her strong position on defense, and they even showcased their alliance aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier in Japan. However, since Takaichi’s words have stirred up BJ’s ire, it complicates Trump’s cultivation of relations with Xi.
Just recently, Takaichi shared in a lawmakers meeting that, should China attack Taiwan, Japan could consider deploying military forces alongside allies. This statement triggered a backlash from Beijing, with threats of economic and diplomatic retaliation, including dismissive remarks from a Chinese diplomat on social media.
The nature of Trump’s conversation with Takaichi indicated the heightened attention given to Taiwan during his call with Xi, as Xi was clearly reiterating that any progress regarding Taiwan is fundamental to long-term international dynamics.
In their dialogue, Trump guided Takaichi to reevaluate her bold stance on Taiwan, with considerations of the domestic political pressures she faces that might prevent her from completely softening her statements.
From Tokyo’s perspective, Takaichi’s comments were framed as a hypothetical discussion reflecting longstanding Japanese perspectives, even though they were more candid than typical for an incumbent prime minister.
Trump praised his relationship with Takaichi on Tuesday. He characterized her as a smart and strong potential leader for Japan.
In recent parliamentary discussions, Takaichi noted that she hadn’t intended to draw attention to specifics about a potential military response to Taiwan-related provocations, which analysts read as a possible retreat from her earlier remarks.
This series of calls—Chinese first, then Japanese— might signal Trump’s readiness to moderate an ally’s controversial take on Taiwan for the sake of U.S.-China trade relations.
Former Obama administration Asia specialist and current Council on Foreign Relations expert Matthew Goodman remarked that while it’s common for a U.S. president to engage with both Chinese and Japanese leaders, the sequencing of these calls has occasional implications that could raise eyebrows.
Ultimately, Trump and Xi’s call underscored their focus on trade relations, noting concerns around China’s intermittent commitment to agreed soybean purchases.
Trump mentioned to reporters that he’d suggested to Xi that he appreciate quicker soybean buying, to which Xi seemed to agree.
After their late-October meeting in South Korea, the U.S. believed China committed to purchasing a significant amount of soybeans, but formal acknowledgment of those figures by Beijing has yet to surface.
Xi are concerned primarily about Taiwan, and without mentioning Japan directly, his references during the conversation reflect growing tensions about regional security dynamics and Japan’s recent provocative stance.
The Wall Street Journal previously discussed Xi’s desire for Trump to potentially solidify an official opposition to Taiwan’s independence, while the U.S. Department of State stressed its stance against unilateral shifts in the region. At the same time, they highlighted that China poses significant risks for tranquility in the Taiwan Strait.
Contact Lingling Wei via email at Lingling.Wei@wsj.com, Brian Schwartz at brian.schwartz@wsj.com, Meridith McGraw at Meridith.McGraw@WSJ.com, or Jason Douglas at jason.douglas@wsj.com.
