US President Donald Trump has urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to avoid further escalation in a diplomatic dispute with China, according to two Japanese government sources familiar with the matter. The advice reportedly came during a phone conversation earlier this week, amid heightened tensions following Takaichi’s recent remarks about a potential Japanese military response in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
Takaichi’s remarks spark major diplomatic storm
Prime Minister Takaichi triggered the sharpest diplomatic confrontation between Tokyo and Beijing in years when she told Japan’s parliament that a hypothetical Chinese assault on Taiwan could necessitate action by Japan’s Self-Defence Forces.
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, reacted strongly, demanding that Takaichi retract her comments. She has so far declined to do so.
Trump urges de-escalation
During Tuesday’s call, Trump communicated his preference for Takaichi to avoid further inflaming tensions with China, the two sources said. They requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the diplomatic exchanges.
One source noted that Trump did not issue any explicit demands, but his message was clear: maintain stability while Washington attempts to preserve a delicate trade war truce with Beijing.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the US president’s request.
Call follows Trump–Xi conversation
Trump’s phone call with Takaichi reportedly came immediately after one with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to China’s Xinhua news agency, Xi reiterated that Taiwan’s “return to China” is central to Beijing’s long-term global vision. Taiwan, however, maintains that its 23 million people reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
Beijing urges US to restrain Japan
A commentary published in the Communist Party’s official newspaper urged the US to prevent Japan from taking “actions to revive militarism”, invoking shared US–China memories of World War II and arguing for the protection of the post-war global order.
White House statement
“The United States’ relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally,” the White House said in a statement attributed to Trump.
Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office, when asked for comment, referred to its official readout of the call, which stated only that the leaders discussed US–China relations, without further detail.