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Trump advises Japan to avoid provoking China over Taiwan
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to avoid escalating tensions with China over Taiwan, according to information cited by the Wall Street Journal. The diplomatic suggestion comes after a series of sharp exchanges between Tokyo and Beijing earlier this month.
Relations between the two Asian powers tightened after Takaichi — known for her nationalist positions — suggested that Japan could contemplate military involvement should China attempt to seize Taiwan by force. Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory, condemned the comments and summoned the Japanese ambassador.
According to the WSJ, Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, during which Xi underscored that Taiwan’s return to China is, in his view, part of the post-war international framework. Soon after, Trump reportedly contacted Takaichi, urging caution and advising her not to provoke Beijing on such a sensitive issue. The report notes that Trump did not explicitly ask her to retract her previous remarks but sought to avoid renewed friction.
Japanese officials, however, viewed the message with concern, interpreting it as an attempt to preserve the recent thaw between Washington and Beijing. The easing of tensions included Chinese commitments to increase imports of American agricultural products — a key issue for Trump given the impact of past trade disputes.
The Japanese Prime Minister’s office declined to comment on the reported exchange. In her official readout, Takaichi simply stated that she and Trump discussed regional security and reaffirmed the strength of U.S.–Japan relations.
In China, the controversy has already had visible effects: Chinese authorities issued travel advisories for Japan, while several Japanese film releases have reportedly been postponed.