Japan protested a report published Wednesday (November 26) by the online edition of The Wall Street Journal, dismissing as "nonsense" US President Trump's suggestion during a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Japan refrain from provoking Beijing on the Taiwan sovereignty issue.
Following his phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday (November 24), Trump spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi on Tuesday (November 25). Takaichi declined to answer whether Trump had discussed Sino-Japanese relations after the call.
Regarding the Wall Street Journal's sudden report, Japanese Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a press conference on Thursday (November 27): "Details of the meeting fall under the diplomatic domain, and I will not comment." He also protested the Wall Street Journal's report at another press conference.
He said, "The government has received many inquiries. We believe it is necessary to clarify." He denied the report's claim, citing sources that "Trump advised against provoking China on the Taiwan issue," stating that it was untrue. He revealed that he had lodged a protest with The Wall Street Journal.
Japanese media quoted Trump as saying in an interview with the Wall Street Journal: "We have important trade agreements with Japan, China, South Korea, and many other countries, and the world is at peace. Let's keep it that way... The US-China relationship is very good, and that's good for our ally, Japan."
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It is generally believed that if Trump were to offer advice, it would primarily stem from US trade interests. Firstly, US-China trade negotiations are nearing completion. Secondly, the US is also urging China to postpone tightening restrictions on rare earth exports and to implement the planned summit visit between the two leaders next year. Simultaneously, considering the US midterm elections next year, he hopes China will increase its purchases of US agricultural products to bolster American farmers' support for him.
Professor Masahiro Maejima, specializing in American political science at Sophia University, pointed out in response to inquiries from foreign media: "For Trump, US-China relations are crucial, and Japan has always been used as a bargaining chip to maintain this relationship. Trump certainly expects Japan to handle its relationship with China properly."
On November 7th, Takaichi's comments regarding a potential conflict with Taiwan caused a major stir. She stated that if China were to use force against Taiwan, it could constitute a "situation threatening Japan's survival." She also argued that, theoretically, collective self-defense, including the use of force by the Self-Defense Forces, is possible. This statement, a departure from the ambiguous wording of previous prime ministers, was seen by China as crossing a red line on the Taiwan issue.
Regarding Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan, Japanese media noted that US Ambassador to Japan Glass expressed support for Japan on the social media platform X. However, neither Trump nor Secretary of State Rubio has commented.
Japanese commentators believe that if this is Trump sending a strong signal of "wanting to improve relations with China," it presents Takaichi, who has a hardline stance on China, with a difficult "Sino-Japanese diplomatic" dilemma.
On the 26th, when answering a question from the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party in the Diet regarding Sino-Japanese relations, Takaichi declined to elaborate, stating, "Japan has always maintained a constructive and open attitude towards China. I have a responsibility to build a more comprehensive and positive relationship through dialogue and to maximize the protection of national interests."
As for the definition of "threat to survival," which is seen as crossing China's red line, she replied, "Regarding some specific cases, I answered truthfully in my last Diet debate. The government's official position is to make judgments based on all information and the specific circumstances of each incident."
Regarding Takaichi's response, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, stated, "By no longer providing many specific examples, I think this is actually a withdrawal (of the conversation)."
In fact, Takaichi's tough stance on China has been said to have earned her even greater applause from conservative voters in Japan. Recent polls also highlight that her remarks did not affect her approval rating.
Freelance writer Eitaro Tokumoto, who focuses on Sino-Japanese relations, believes that repairing Sino-Japanese relations will take time. He pointed out that it is not easy for the arrogant Takaichi to lower her stance and immediately revise her remarks. He speculated that China's dissatisfaction with Takaichi began in late October when she posted a photo of herself shaking hands with the Taiwanese representative during the APEC summit in South Korea. Furthermore, Takaichi's first meeting with Xi Jinping, during which she expressed "serious concern" about the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the human rights situation in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, was enough to anger Beijing.
