U.S. President Donald Trump has privately asked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to avoid further inflaming tensions with China in a telephone call on Tuesday.
Trump warned against escalation following Takaichi’s recent parliamentary remarks suggesting that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt Japanese military action. The comments triggered one of the most serious diplomatic disputes with Beijing in years. While calling for restraint, Trump did not ask Takaichi to withdraw her comments, asource said, adding that Tokyo insists they reflect long-standing policy.
The request came shortly after Trump’s call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who reiterated that Taiwan’s “return to China” remains central to Beijing’s vision for global order, according to Xinhua. Trump has avoided commenting on Taiwan in relation to his discussion with Xi, instead highlighting what he called “extremely strong” U.S.-China relations and progress towards a comprehensive trade deal.
Reportedly, Japanese officials have grown uneasy over Trump’s relative silence as Beijing escalates pressure, including urging Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Japan, a move that threatens tourism revenues. Some in Tokyo fear Trump could dilute support for Taiwan to secure improved terms with China, potentially emboldening Beijing.
China’s state-run People’s Daily pressed the United States to “rein in Japan” and prevent actions that could “revive militarism”, invoking the nations’ World War Two history. Takaichi’s remark, which broke with the strategic ambiguity favoured by her predecessors, cannot be withdrawn, officials say, leaving her with limited options to defuse the row.
Meanwhile, Washington’s ambassador to Tokyo has voiced support for Japan against what he called China’s “coercion”, but senior Japanese lawmakers privately told Reuters they had hoped for clearer public backing from their top security ally. One said Trump’s silence could be interpreted by Beijing as a signal that further pressure on Japan would be tolerated.
Analysts suggest Trump remains focused on maintaining last month’s trade war truce with Xi and avoiding confrontation ahead of a planned visit to Beijing in April.
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