Japan, US agree to collaborate on various issues over China: Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed on Saturday that she and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed collaborating on various matters related to China during a telephone conversation. The talks followed Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier in the week, where he detailed their summit in Washington.

Takaichi emphasized the strong Japan-U.S. alliance, highlighting their interactions twice in a week, including an in-person meeting in New York. At the U.N. General Assembly, Takaichi met Trump to align Japan's stance with Washington ahead of the upcoming U.S.-China summit. During the Thursday Trump-Xi talks, both leaders acknowledged their shared history in World War II, with Xi recalling their "shoulder to shoulder" stance against Japanese militarism after Trump referred to the U.S. and China as allies in the conflict that ended in 1945.

Takaichi reiterated that Japan and the U.S. now share the highest mutual trust, vowing their commitment to regional and global peace and stability. The relationship between Japan and China has deteriorated since Takaichi, known for her assertive security stance, sparked controversy in November by suggesting an attack on Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.