TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US President Donald Trump told Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae not to goad Beijing over Taiwan during their phone call on Tuesday, per a Wall Street Journal report.
Trump’s message was subtle, and he did not urge Takaichi to retract her comments, WSJ cited Japanese officials and an American briefed on the call. Trump suggested Takaichi soften the tone of her remarks on Taiwan, the American briefed on the matter said.
Earlier this month, Takaichi said Chinese military actions against Taiwan, including a naval blockade, would be a “situation threatening Japan’s survival,” and could prompt a Japanese military response. She added that Japan’s response would be “after comprehensively assessing all information in line with the individual and specific circumstances of what has actually occurred.”
Beijing responded by issuing a travel warning urging Chinese not to visit Japan, per Reuters.
The Japanese officials said Trump’s message was concerning, as it was clear he wanted to avoid any trouble with Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid US-China trade tensions. Xi called Trump on Monday.
In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, Trump said: “The United States relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally. Getting along with China is a great thing for China and the US.”
Tokyo attempted to assuage Beijing’s concerns by sending Masaaki Kanai, director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, to China last week, but no consensus was reached.
