Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration on issues related to China following a recent summit in Washington that unsettled Tokyo due to unusual historical references made by both leaders. The discussions came after Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked the wartime alliance between the United States and China during World War II, a remark that sparked concern among Japanese officials and analysts.

Trump welcomed Xi to the White House on Thursday for his first state visit in over a decade, during which both presidents highlighted their countries’ alliance against Japan in the 1940s. The joint statements released after the summit recalled the two nations’ historical cooperation in defeating Japan, a narrative that deviated from typical diplomatic language and raised questions in Tokyo about its implications.

Following the summit, Takaichi met Trump on Tuesday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. She described their exchanges as a demonstration of the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance and confirmed ongoing collaboration on economic and security issues concerning China. In a social media post, she emphasized that Japan and the United States are “the most trusted allied nations” and pledged to work closely with Trump to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Despite these assurances, Takaichi refrained from commenting directly on the wartime references made during the Trump-Xi summit. Analysts in Japan expressed mixed reactions. Some viewed the resurfacing of wartime rhetoric as a potential signal of shifting U.S.-China relations with possible repercussions for Japan’s strategic positioning.

Shin Kawashima, professor of international relations at the University of Tokyo, suggested that the United States’ embrace of this historical framing might indicate tacit support for China’s critical stance toward the current Japanese administration. Others, such as Hotaka Machida, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics, acknowledged that while the remarks were surprising and awkward from Japan’s perspective, they were likely intended to emphasize U.S.-China ties rather than diminish Japan’s role. Nonetheless, Machida cautioned that China might exploit the cordial tone for propaganda purposes.

Kenichi Doi, also of the Institute of Geoeconomics, noted the striking nature of Trump’s wartime characterization but urged caution in interpreting it as an endorsement of Beijing’s criticisms of Tokyo. Rintaro Nishimura, a senior associate at The Asia Group, echoed this view, stating that the alliance between Japan and the United States remains robust despite the single contentious statement. He added, however, that the mutual emphasis on the historic U.S.-China alliance was unfavorable for Tokyo’s diplomatic interests.

Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have been strained since November, following Takaichi’s remarks about a potential blockade of Taiwan posing an existential threat to Japan. Official exchanges have largely stalled, though Japanese business and legislative delegations continue to seek engagement with China. A business delegation led by former foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya was scheduled to visit China this week as part of ongoing efforts to ease tensions and better understand Beijing’s position.