Sources privy to the details said that in an hour-long phone call between Trump and Xi, the Chinese leader devoted half of the time to emphasizing China’s historic claim to the democratic island and the need for Washington and Beijing to manage the world order together. Later that day, Trump contacted Takaichi and advised her not to provoke Beijing on the question of Taiwan’s sovereignty. The sources noted that Trump’s advice was gentle, and he did not pressure her to go back on her words, but acknowledged her internal political constraints.
In response to the newspaper’s request, the White House issued a statement on Trump’s behalf that relations with China are very good, which also benefits Japan. Trump added that in his estimation President Xi will significantly increase soybean purchases and that “the world is at peace.” On the other hand, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister of Japan denied the report and claimed that it was not true that Trump advised Takaichi not to provoke the Chinese government, and that no such comment was made.
The incident highlights the new reality in US-China relations, in which the cease-fire in the trade war and the Taiwan issue have become intertwined. Takaichi’s remarks on November 7, according to which Japan may deploy its army along with other countries if China attacks Taiwan, led to economic and diplomatic response measures on the part of Beijing. A Chinese diplomat even wrote on social media that her neck should be “snipped”.
Analysts noted that the order of the talks, first with China and then with Japan, may reflect a willingness on Trump’s part to curb an ally’s controversial position on a key geopolitical issue, in favor of US trade relations with Beijing. Matthew Goodman, an Asia expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted that although it is not surprising that the US president is talking to the two leaders, the order of the talks is interesting and likely raised eyebrows in Tokyo. At a hearing in Japan’s parliament on Wednesday, Takaichi said she did not intend to go into specifics about the scenario in Taiwan, a statement that some analysts saw as softening her position.