Trump Urged Japan to Avoid Escalation With China Amid Rising Regional Tensions, Sources Say
TOKYO, Nov 27 (Foxton News) — U.S. President Donald Trump privately urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to show restraint and avoid further escalating an intensifying diplomatic clash with China, according to sources familiar with their conversation. The request, made during a telephone discussion this week, underscores Washington’s desire to preserve a fragile détente with Beijing as trade negotiations continue.
The appeal came after Takaichi’s recent comments in Japan’s parliament sparked a storm of outrage from Beijing. Earlier this month, she suggested that a hypothetical Chinese military attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response. Her remark — unusual in its directness and a departure from Japan’s historically cautious language — provoked some of the most intense diplomatic friction between Tokyo and Beijing in years.
Two Japanese government officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Trump clearly conveyed that he did not want tensions to escalate any further. One of the sources emphasized that while Trump expressed concern, he stopped short of making specific demands or echoing China’s calls for Japan to retract Takaichi’s comments.
Tokyo has refused to walk back the statement, arguing instead that the prime minister merely articulated principles consistent with Japan’s long-standing security policy.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara declined to comment on the reported exchange when asked by reporters on Thursday.
Tokyo Worries U.S. Might Soften Stance on Taiwan
Within Japanese political circles, fears have long circulated that Trump might consider tempering U.S. support for Taiwan to secure more favorable outcomes in trade talks with China. That possibility has troubled policymakers in Tokyo, who worry that any reduction in American backing for Taiwan could embolden Beijing, increasing the risk of confrontation in East Asia.
“For Trump, the central issue is always U.S.-China relations,” explained Kazuhiro Maejima, a U.S. politics professor at Sophia University. “Japan is often treated as a strategic card — something used to advance or stabilize Washington’s relationship with Beijing.”
Those concerns grew sharper after Trump’s call with Takaichi reportedly took place just minutes after he spoke directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to China’s official Xinhua news agency, Xi used the discussion to reaffirm that Taiwan’s “return to China” remains a core element of Beijing’s strategic vision for the future global order.
Taiwan, however, rejects China’s sovereignty claim, pointing out that its people alone will determine the island’s political future. The self-ruled democracy maintains that unification with China is not on the table.
Trump has not publicly addressed whatever discussion he may have had with Xi about Taiwan. Instead, he highlighted what he described as the exceptionally strong relationship between the United States and China, saying the two nations were working constructively toward the completion of a major trade agreement.
“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 after Reuters sought comment on the calls.
Trump added: “We signed wonderful trade deals with Japan, China, South Korea, and many other nations, and the world is at peace. Let’s keep it that way!”
Japan Concerned by U.S. Silence Amid Chinese Pressure
Trump’s unwillingness to issue public support for Japan as the dispute with China intensifies has unsettled officials in Tokyo. Beijing has urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, dealing a visible blow to tourism and further straining relations.
Although the Japanese prime minister’s office referred Reuters to its official summary — which noted that Takaichi and Trump discussed U.S.-China relations — it offered no insight into the substance of the conversation, nor did it address the reported request for de-escalation.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Trump had pressed Takaichi to cool tensions, a detail now corroborated by multiple sources in Japan.
Chinese State Media Casts Japan as Threat to Postwar Order
China sharpened its rhetoric on Thursday. In a strongly worded editorial, the People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s flagship newspaper, called for Washington to rein in Japan to prevent “actions to revive militarism,” a reference to the World War Two era that China frequently invokes when criticizing Tokyo.
“China and the United States share a common responsibility to jointly safeguard the post-war international order and oppose any attempts or actions to revive militarism,” the editorial said, framing Japan as a destabilizing force in the region.
The commentary reflects Beijing’s anger over Takaichi’s statement, which departed from the practice of “strategic ambiguity” embraced by previous Japanese leaders regarding the defense of Taiwan. Japanese officials have previously told Reuters that the prime minister cannot withdraw her remark without creating the appearance of capitulation to Beijing, complicating efforts to ease the tensions.
Washington Signals Support but Tokyo Wants More
The U.S. ambassador to Japan has stated that Washington supports Tokyo in the face of China’s growing pressure. Yet within Japan’s ruling party, some lawmakers are dissatisfied with Washington’s relatively muted tone.
Two senior legislators told Reuters they had hoped for a more explicit declaration of solidarity from the United States, which maintains its largest overseas military presence on Japanese soil. They argue that stronger backing would send a firmer signal to China and reassure the Japanese public.
One of the lawmakers, speaking anonymously, said, “We’d like a word from Trump himself.” He added that Trump’s public silence risks giving Beijing the impression that it has more room to escalate its pressure campaign.
Japan has spent recent years expanding and modernizing its defensive capabilities, encouraged in part by Washington but frequently criticized by Beijing, which views such moves with suspicion.
Trade Priorities Likely Shaping Trump’s Approach
Some analysts believe Trump’s caution reflects broader strategic priorities: specifically, his desire to maintain the delicate trade war truce he struck with Xi Jinping last month. With a planned visit to Beijing scheduled for April, they say Trump likely wants to avoid any confrontation that could threaten economic negotiations.
Stability with China — at least through the completion of trade talks — appears to be a major concern for the Trump administration. As such, Japan’s spiraling diplomatic clash with Beijing risks complicating Washington’s agenda.
“Trump wants predictable conditions heading into the next round of negotiations,” said one regional expert. “Any flare-up between Japan and China threatens the broader diplomatic environment he’s trying to manage.”
Japan Navigates a Difficult Moment in Regional Diplomacy
The situation has left Tokyo balancing several difficult realities: a powerful neighbor angered by a remark that cannot be retracted, an ally preoccupied with its own trade interests, and a region where even small diplomatic misunderstandings can have far-reaching consequences.
The clash with China has already produced tangible repercussions, from reduced tourism to heightened concern among Japanese citizens about regional stability. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s political future — long a source of tension in Asia — remains at the center of the dispute.
Takaichi, still relatively early in her term, now faces the challenge of steering Japan through one of its most delicate diplomatic moments in recent years without appearing weak at home or provocative abroad.
A Carefully Watched Triangle: Washington, Tokyo, Beijing
International observers note that the United States, Japan, and China form one of the most strategically significant trilateral relationships in the world. Each country’s actions reverberate far beyond their borders, influencing global trade, security, and geopolitical balance.
The latest episode — triggered by a single remark but magnified by longstanding mistrust and competing national interests — demonstrates how easily tensions can flare and how carefully diplomats must navigate them.
As Beijing presses Tokyo for concessions, and as Tokyo watches Washington for reassurance, the region remains on edge. With trade negotiations looming, Taiwan’s politics evolving, and public sentiment volatile, the stakes could hardly be higher.
