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

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday, as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to make his first state visit to the U.S. in over a decade during a state dinner on Thursday. Takaichi will be meeting Trump two days after Xi's arrival, as both leaders navigate a complex geopolitical landscape.

The meeting takes place amid tense relations between Tokyo and Beijing, following Takaichi's comments last November that an attack on Taiwan could be a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. This statement angered Beijing, which views Taiwan as an integral part of China that may be forcibly reunited if necessary. Most nations, including the United States, do not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but this remains a contentious issue for China.

Given the unpredictable nature of President Trump, who is facing a potentially contentious November midterm election, Japan is working to protect its vital interests from being sacrificed during the Xi-Trump summit. The Takaichi-Trump talks are expected to be influenced by the frosty ties between the two Asian powers.