Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi has arrived in the US. In a public meeting earlier today with President Trump, a reporter asked about the Japan-China relationship, and Takaichi took a diplomatic tone, while Trump just said “I’ll be speaking Japan’s praises when I’m in China with President Xi.” The Japanese side is also upset with the US intelligence community description of the Prime Minister’s November 2025 comments in which she described a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan as a “survival threatening situation” for Japan, comments that triggered the PRC government to launch its ongoing coercion campaign against Japan. The IC report said: Prime Minister Takaichi’s specific comments carry weight in Japan’s system because the phrase “survival threatening situation” serves as a possible legal justification for military authorities under Japan’s 2015 Legislation for Peace and Security. Her comments represent a significant shift for a sitting Japanese prime minister. China perceived her comments to be escalatory and violation of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement of 1972 and their Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1978, which included Japan’s recognition of the PRC as China’s sole government and respecting China’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory. China probably is concerned that Prime Minister Takaichi’s comments will bolster Taiwan’s independence movement. A Japanese official said “the claim of a significant policy shift is inaccurate”.
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