Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on the 22nd on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The two leaders exchanged views on China ahead of a U.S.-China summit scheduled for the 24th and reaffirmed a commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance.
The leaders spoke for 35 minutes on economic security and China policy, according to Japanese media including the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and NHK on the 23rd. It was the first formal meeting between the two sides in six months, since Takaichi visited Washington in March.
Japan's insistence on the 22nd reflected the upcoming U.S.-China summit on the 24th. Other options for a meeting with Trump had been floated, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November and the Group of 20 summit in the United States in December.
But Tokyo appears to have grown anxious as talk emerged of a possible "big deal" at the U.S.-China summit ahead of U.S. midterm elections in November. Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated rapidly since Takaichi's remarks on a potential Taiwan contingency, making it critical for Tokyo to gauge and coordinate Washington's position on countering Beijing. The Japanese government is wary that Trump could move toward concessions to China on Taiwan in exchange for expanded exports of American goods.
The two leaders discussed economic security issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the United States in mind, according to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki, who attended the meeting. Nikkei reported that the talks appeared to address how to respond to China's continued tight controls on rare earth exports.
The two sides agreed to press ahead steadily with economic cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals. Takaichi also noted that Japan has been the largest investor in the United States for seven consecutive years, pointing to further strengthening of economic ties between the two countries, NHK reported. The leaders also discussed stepping up efforts on security. On the cost of stationing U.S. troops in Japan and on defense spending — issues Tokyo had worried about — little pressure was applied. Nikkei reported that the U.S. side did not demand specific numerical targets for higher defense spending.
The leaders also agreed to cooperate on smooth implementation of the U.S.-Japan tariff agreement and discussed conditions in international financial markets and exchange rates. Amid rising long-term interest rates, the United States carried out an unusual joint intervention with Japan in the foreign exchange market in late July.
The two leaders confirmed the need to respond jointly to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and their resolve to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea, according to Kyodo News. Trump also said he would fully support an immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. They agreed on the importance of advancing the Quad — the grouping of the United States, Japan, Australia and India — and a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
The International Criminal Court, which Trump has criticized harshly in recent days, also came up. Attention had focused on whether Takaichi would directly demand a rollback after ICC President Tomoko Akane, the first Japanese national to hold the post, was placed under U.S. sanctions.
Ozaki said there had been "a frank exchange of views" on lifting the ICC sanctions, indicating that Japan raised the matter. He added, however, that "the specifics are diplomatic conversations, so it is difficult to discuss them." NHK, citing a participant in the summit, reported that Trump cut off Takaichi as she raised the ICC. With Trump continuing to speak negatively about the court, the Japanese side was said to have judged that a cautious approach was needed.
Trump's Pearl Harbor Remark Startled Takaichi in March; This Time, a First-Name "Donald"
At the March meeting, Trump abruptly raised Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, leaving Takaichi flustered. No such moment occurred this time.
In March, while defending U.S. airstrikes on Iran, Trump said: "Who knows more about surprise attacks than we do? Why didn't Japan tell me about Pearl Harbor?" Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States fully into World War II and is seen as having led to Japan's defeat. Immediately after Trump's reference to Pearl Harbor — long treated as taboo in U.S.-Japan relations — Takaichi visibly showed her discomfort, widening her eyes and shifting in her chair.
This time, Trump was far more measured, saying he was "really proud" to be there with the Japanese prime minister and that he was "always watching the approval ratings of the Takaichi government, and they are doing a very good job." He also praised Takaichi, saying she would "leave her name in history."
Takaichi, for her part, displayed a rapport with Trump by calling him by his first name. "With Asia's security environment severe, the fact that Donald and I are meeting today will show the world the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance," she said, adding that economic security cooperation between the two countries was making progress.
