Japan PM Takaichi Calls Trump Talks on China 'Timely' Ahead of Xi Summit
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi said she held a timely discussion on China with President Trump before his summit with Xi Jinping.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she held a timely discussion with US President Donald Trump about China, shortly before his planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Speaking at a press conference in New York after meeting Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Takaichi said Japan attaches importance to US-China relations contributing to the stability of the international community, including Japan. She did not disclose specifics of what the two leaders discussed regarding China.
The meeting gave Tokyo an opportunity to make its case to Trump before he sits down with Xi. Japan and other US allies in Asia worry that Washington could dilute its support for Taiwan in exchange for an economic deal with Beijing.
Xi is expected to press Trump to halt arms sales to Taiwan during their talks. Beijing regards the democratically governed island as its own territory and has been increasing military activity around it.
Taiwan lies close to Japan. Takaichi drew China's anger last year when she said Tokyo could deploy its defence forces if military action aimed at Taiwan also threatened Japanese territory.