Takaichi and Trump hold call on China after Taiwan backlash

Takaichi and Trump hold call on China after Taiwan backlash
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to the media after a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, at her official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 25 November, 2025
Reuters

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and President Donald Trump discussed China relations in a phone call on Tuesday, their first conversation since her comments triggered a diplomatic clash with Beijing.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has continued to face diplomatic fallout from remarks earlier this month suggesting that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response — comments that drew a fierce reaction from Beijing, including a travel boycott targeting Japan.

China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claim, insisting that only its 23 million people can decide their future.

The tensions formed the backdrop to a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday.

According to China’s Xinhua news agency, Xi told Trump that Taiwan’s “return to China” is central to Beijing’s vision for the world order.

Trump later highlighted “progress” in U.S.-China trade talks in a Truth Social post but made no mention of Taiwan.

Speaking to reporters after her own call with Trump on Tuesday, Takaichi said the U.S. president offered “a brief explanation” of the state of U.S.-China relations but declined to give further details.

She added that Trump described the two leaders as “extremely good friends” and said he welcomed calls from her “at any time.”

The White House did not immediately comment on the conversation.

Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai responded on Tuesday, saying that “a return to China is not an option” for the island’s population.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, asked about Xi’s reported comments, said he would not discuss the content of the leaders’ call but noted that “the stability of U.S.-China relations is extremely important for the international community, including Japan.”

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