Shadow of Xi summit hangs over Trump’s high-stakes talks with Japan’s Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday could be overshadowed by Chinese President Xi Jinping's high-stakes state visit to Washington, which begins two days later. Xi's first state visit to the US in over a decade is set to take place from Wednesday to Friday, giving him a three-day window to engage with Trump.

It comes amid tense relations between Tokyo and Beijing over the Taiwan issue, which saw Takaichi's remarks last November incite anger in Beijing. Japan is keen to ensure its vital interests are not compromised in the forthcoming Xi-Trump summit, where critical issues such as rare earth exports, Taiwan's security and bilateral economic security are expected to be discussed.

Experts suggest Tokyo's timing of Takaichi's meeting with Trump highlights its determination to prevent Washington from making concessions at the expense of Japan's regional security and economic interests. Beijing's rare earth export controls and Taiwan are anticipated to be key topics in the talks, with Takaichi using the platform to convey Tokyo's perspective.