Trump urged Xi to talk to Takaichi and lift export curbs on Japan, sources say

Former US President Donald Trump lobbied Chinese President Xi Jinping to engage in dialogue with Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and lift China's export restrictions on Japan during their meeting in the United States, according to sources. Xi reportedly cautioned Trump about the dangers of Japanese militarism during their sit-down in Washington.

While not a top priority for Trump, the issue of Chinese export curbs on Japanese industries, such as rare earths, was raised, with Trump framing it as an indirect threat to US industries reliant on Japanese suppliers. Trump also urged Xi to meet Takaichi, but the Chinese leader was not receptive to the request, as he believed the dispute should be kept separate from the US-China relationship.

Japan had previously requested talks between Takaichi and Xi during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, but Beijing denied the request, instead offering a meeting with Prime Minister Li Qiang. Tensions between China and Japan have been high since last November, following Takaichi's comments about a Taiwan contingency being a survival-threatening situation for Japan, to which Beijing strongly objected.

The two countries have since cut official and cultural exchanges, banned exports of certain products, and Japan has strengthened its military ties with the Philippines.