US President Donald Trump subtly advised Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi not to provoke Beijing on Taiwan sovereignty, according to Wall Street Journal report
TOKYO: US President Donald Trump advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi against provoking China regarding Taiwan’s sovereignty, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The diplomatic guidance followed Takaichi’s recent statement that Tokyo could intervene militarily if Taiwan faced attack.
China claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has threatened force to achieve reunification.
During a Monday phone call with Trump, Chinese leader Xi Jinping emphasized that Taiwan’s return was “integral part of the post-war international order” according to China’s foreign ministry.
Trump subsequently arranged a call with Takaichi and “advised her not to provoke Beijing on the question of the island’s sovereignty” the Journal reported, citing Japanese officials and an American briefed on the discussion.
“The advice from Trump was subtle, and he didn’t pressure Takaichi to walk back her comments” the report added.
A spokeswoman for Takaichi’s office declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
Beijing reacted furiously to Takaichi’s original remarks, summoning Japan’s ambassador and advising Chinese citizens against traveling to Japan.
On Wednesday, the Chinese embassy in Japan warned of increased crime and claimed Chinese citizens reported “being insulted, beaten and injured for no reason”.
Japan’s foreign ministry denied any crime surge, citing National Police Agency data showing murders halved from January to October compared to the same period in 2024.
Takaichi described her conversation with Trump as friendly, noting “President Trump said we are very close friends, and he offered that I should feel free to call him anytime”.
However, Japanese officials told the Journal “the message was worrying” as Trump sought to protect his detente with Xi.
The US president reportedly wanted to avoid Taiwan friction endangering last month’s agreement, which included Chinese promises to buy more American agricultural products. – AFP
