Will the Trump-Xi wartime ally nostalgia prompt a Japanese rethink on China ties?

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly attempting to arrange a phone call with US President Donald Trump in the wake of the latter's references to the wartime alliance between the United States and China during World War II. Trump made these remarks during his welcoming remarks for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who visited Washington for the first time in over a decade.

These comments, which brought about a sharp reaction in Tokyo, stirred concern among Japanese officials. Takaichi expressed Tokyo and Washington's strong alliance based on mutual trust, but declined to comment on the Trump-Xi summit. Takaichi had rescheduled her address to the UN General Assembly to secure a meeting with Trump, who was present at the summit.

Analysts warned that this nostalgia for the wartime alliance could spell trouble for Japan. Chinese observers believe this moment should prompt Japan to reconsider its stance towards China, while Japanese analysts cautioned against reading too much into the rhetoric. They noted that while the remarks were surprising and awkward, they were made in the context of the US-China relationship.

Some experts cautioned that China might exploit the amicable atmosphere to use it as a propaganda tool. However, Tokyo is less worried about the direct impact of this single statement on the US-Japan alliance. Despite the concerns, Tokyo is expected to continue its engagement with Beijing through legislative and commercial dialogue, aiming for a potential meeting between Takaichi and Xi at the APEC summit in Shenzhen.