Amid rising row between Japan and China over Taiwan remarks, US President Donald Trump had asked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takiachi not to further escalate the dispute.
The dispute began after Takaichi told Japanese lawmakers that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan’s survival could potentially warrant a military response, remarks that triggered one of the sharpest diplomatic clashes in years.
Reuters quoted two Japanese government sources as saying that Trump said he did not want to see further escalation in Tuesday’s telephone call with Takaichi.
The conversation came after Trump’s call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “The United States’ relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally,” Trump said in a statement issued by the White House in response to questions from Reuters. “We signed wonderful trade deals with Japan, China, South Korea, and many other nations, and the world is at peace. Let’s keep it that way!”
China’s foreign ministry said it pressed Tokyo to retract the comments, while Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, insisted the remarks aligned with Japan’s long-held policy and stressed that Tokyo continued to seek a peaceful, dialogue-based outcome to issues surrounding Taiwan.
Beijing considers the self-governed island part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control, a claim Taiwan firmly rejects.
The controversy escalated after a Chinese diplomat in Japan posted a menacing comment about Takaichi on social media.
Tokyo lodged a strong protest, but Chinese state media continued to launch fierce attacks on the prime minister, with Xinhua accusing her of “summoning Japan’s militarist demons.”
