TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae pledged to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait during their White House meeting on Thursday.
Trump announced several initiatives to strengthen the US-Japan alliance, boost economic security, and reinforce deterrence for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Amid the redeployment of some US military forces to the Middle East and a more assertive China, Takaichi stressed that the Indo-Pacific security situation remains a serious concern, per Kyodo News.
The White House fact sheet said the leaders “committed to peace and stability" in the Taiwan Strait, viewing it as an integral part of regional security and global prosperity. They also “opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, including by force or coercion,” without explicitly naming China.
This marks Takaichi’s first visit to the US since taking office in October. The trip aimed to strengthen personal trust with Trump and reaffirm US commitments to Indo-Pacific security amid growing Chinese influence.
Japanese concerns are rising that prolonged US and Israeli military actions against Iran could shift US focus from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, a development that could be advantageous to China. The US military has begun redeploying the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and over 2,000 Marines from bases in southwestern and southern Japan to the Middle East.
