Japan PM Takaichi meets Trump in New York ahead of Xi summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, to coordinate strategy on China just one day before Trump's planned White House summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The roughly 35-minute meeting focused on bilateral security and economic cooperation. Takaichi and Trump agreed to work closely on "various issues concerning China, including economic security" and to enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance's deterrence and response capabilities, according to the Japanese government. Takaichi told Trump that the security environment in Asia is becoming increasingly severe and emphasized the importance of demonstrating "how robust our alliance is." She highlighted joint progress in bilateral economic security cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and critical minerals.

Trump praised Takaichi's leadership publicly, saying she "has done a great job" and describing her as "a friend of mine." He noted Japan's strong economic performance and said he has been monitoring her high approval ratings. The two leaders also reaffirmed commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and exchanged views on the International Criminal Court, which the Trump administration has criticized.

The timing of the meeting underscores regional tensions tied to China. Japan and China have been in a diplomatic freeze since November of the previous year, when Takaichi suggested that an attack on Taiwan could constitute an existential threat to Japan and warrant a response from its armed forces. China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, has since imposed political and economic reprisals against Japan, including export restrictions on rare earth elements needed for high-tech manufacturing.

Japan and other U.S. allies in Asia are concerned about the possibility that Trump might reduce U.S. support for Taiwan in exchange for an economic agreement with Xi. Takaichi told reporters after meeting Trump that she had had a "timely" conversation about China and stated that Japan considers it important that U.S.-China relations contribute to international stability. This was Takaichi's first meeting with Trump since March; they briefly spoke in June at a Group of Seven summit in France.