TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with former U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday amid heightened tensions with China. The discussions were expected to focus on Beijing’s escalating economic and security measures targeting Japan, as well as the broader security landscape in East Asia.
China has maintained a sustained campaign of reprisals against Japan since last November, following Ms. Takaichi’s remarks suggesting that Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that China considers part of its territory. In response, Beijing imposed restrictions including limits on rare earth mineral exports, curbs on seafood imports from Japan, and barriers to tourism, alongside suspending diplomatic interactions.
Recently, Chinese exports of rare earth magnets to Japan have markedly declined. Data showed a 52 percent drop in exports in July compared with the previous year, and a further 17 percent decrease in August. Chinese tourism to Japan also fell sharply, declining 59 percent in August from the prior year. These materials are vital for various high-tech applications, intensifying concerns in Tokyo about economic coercion.
Despite the tensions, Japan has sought to re-engage China diplomatically. Delegations of Japanese lawmakers and business leaders have visited Beijing to open lines of communication, resulting in candid exchanges. Chinese officials have reportedly pressed visiting Japanese lawmakers about Ms. Takaichi’s plans to enhance Japan’s military capabilities and questioned whether these moves are linked to defending Taiwan.
Chinese officials remain critical of Ms. Takaichi’s Taiwan-related comments, with demands for her to retract the statement. Liu Bin, China’s assistant minister of foreign affairs, stated that her “erroneous remarks and actions” were the main obstacle to improved bilateral relations. Similarly, Lu Kang, deputy head of the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department, characterized China-Japan ties as facing “serious difficulties,” attributing the root cause to Ms. Takaichi’s stance.
Ms. Takaichi has indicated she will not retreat from her position, citing long-standing support for Taiwan and public concern over China’s assertiveness. Analysts note that a lack of a trusted intermediary complicates efforts to ease tensions. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party under Ms. Takaichi has lost the backing of the Komeito party—previously a diplomatic channel to China—further narrowing avenues for dialogue.
The meeting with Mr. Trump took place ahead of his scheduled state visit to Washington by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with whom Ms. Takaichi is also expected to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in November. Japanese officials emphasized the importance of reaffirming the U.S.-Japan security alliance, including the continued presence of over 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan, as a counterbalance to China’s regional ambitions.
Beyond security, the talks involved economic issues, including Japan’s commitment to invest $550 billion in the United States under a trade deal negotiated with the Trump administration. Ms. Takaichi also addressed domestic concerns, pressing Mr. Trump on his administration’s sanctions against Tomoko Akane, the Japanese president of the International Criminal Court, a move that has sparked indignation in Japan.
Experts suggest that while Mr. Trump is unlikely to intervene directly in the Japan-China dispute, reaffirming strong U.S.-Japan cooperation sends a critical signal to Beijing. Kenneth R. Weinstein of the Hudson Institute highlighted the importance of continued dialogue between Tokyo and Washington as essential for regional stability and maintaining a united front in the Indo-Pacific.