Sanae Takaichi and Trump meet in New York to counter China

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in New York today and held a face-to-face meeting with former US President Donald Trump in a meeting room near United Nations Headquarters. This marks the leaders' reunion half a year after their initial meeting in Washington this March. The primary agenda of the talks focused on bilateral cooperation between the US and Japan within the Asia-Pacific security architecture, particularly regarding strategic assessments and responses toward China. During the meeting, Takaichi emphasized that the US-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of regional stability, and that both sides must maintain a high degree of coordination in intelligence sharing, military exercises, and economic sanctions to prevent the escalation of Chinese provocations in the East and South China Seas.

Drawing on the "America First" policy pursued during his presidency, Trump reiterated that the US will continue to center its approach on a "free and open" Indo-Pacific strategy. He noted that ahead of the upcoming high-level US-China summit, the US needs to ensure its allies' positions remain aligned. Trump mentioned that the US will press stricter demands on China regarding trade, technology, and human rights issues during the summit, and hopes Japan will provide diplomatic and economic support. The two sides also discussed a shared consensus on policy toward Taiwan, agreeing that Taiwan's democratic system is inextricably linked to regional peace and that any unilateral attempts to change the status quo must be avoided.

In her post-meeting press conference, Sanae Takaichi explained that as Japanese Prime Minister, she will brief the Liberal Democratic Party at its plenary meeting later this month on the latest US positions and seek parliamentary support to accelerate the passage of relevant defense budgets. She pointed out that Japan completed the deployment of a new generation of air defense systems last year and is planning to procure additional advanced US-made fighter jets to enhance its capabilities against hypersonic weapons. This move is not only a response to China's military modernization, but also aligns with the "de-risking" strategy promoted by the US in the Indo-Pacific region.

From a broader international perspective, this meeting comes at a time when US-China relations remain strained due to trade friction, technological blockades, and disputes in the South China Sea. The upcoming high-level US-China summit in San Francisco is expected to focus on the renegotiation of trade rules, the security of semiconductor supply chains, and criticisms of China's human rights record. As one of America's most important Asian allies, the clarity of Japan's stance will directly impact Washington's leverage at the negotiating table. Takaichi's visit and her meeting with Trump demonstrate that Japan is actively seeking balance between the US and China while maintaining a steadfast China policy.

Finally, analysts pointed out that the meeting between Sanae Takaichi and Donald Trump is not merely a personal diplomatic interaction, but a concrete action by the Japanese government to secure maximum space for its own security and economic interests amid US-China strategic competition. If the upcoming US-China summit fails to yield substantial breakthroughs, the role of the US-Japan alliance may be further elevated, resulting in more pronounced bloc divisions within the region. Conversely, if the summit fosters some form of détente, Japan will also need to adjust its China policy to avoid over-reliance on a single major power for security guarantees. (Source: Central News Agency)