“The world is on a path to peace, let’s make sure it stays that way.” These words are part of his response to the American newspaper Wall Street Journal.
It was preceded by a publication that revealed the content of a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the US president, in the context of which the latter urged the former not to provoke Beijing on the issue of its sovereignty.
The news was denied by Takaichi’s prime minister’s office denying that she herself received any exhortation. It is, however, a common secret that the escalation, which was caused by Japan’s stance in the event of a war between Beijing and Taipei, comes after a demanding “turn” in Sino-American relations.
Negative situation
The image one gets from the publication is at first sight in complete contrast to what the American president said publicly about the head of the Japanese government just 24 hours ago. At the time, the former described the latter as “very strong”, predicting that she will become a “great leader”, while he described the relationship between the two as “excellent”. But for her part, Takaichi gave the impression of a person who enjoys the trust of the White House, even claiming that Trump gave her the freedom to communicate with him whenever she wishes.
After all, before taking office, their meeting on the American aircraft carrier USS George Washington had preceded, where Trump praised the relationship between the two nations.
Beyond the accuracy of what was announced, it is crucial to recall the diplomatic context, within which the telephone four-four took place. And in particular, in the last three weeks, with the tension between China and Japan peaking after the Japanese Prime Minister’s statements that “a military conflict in Taiwan means an existential threat to Japan”, not even ruling out military involvement of the Land of the Rising Sun.
The petition was interpreted by Beijing as an aggressive move that overturns Tokyo’s decades-old policy that Taiwan is an integral part of the People’s Republic of China.
Interpretations
But the problem for Washington does not lie in the conflict as such between the two Asian neighbors, but more in the time in which it manifests itself.
The recent agreement of the US president with his Chinese counterpart to de-escalate the trade war between their countries – a move that is based on the concerns of a large part of the American agricultural world.
A return to the aforementioned position of the American president is revealing: “The relationship of the United States with China is very good, which is also very good for Japan, our dear and close ally. […] In my opinion, President Xi will significantly increase purchases of US soybeans and other agricultural products. And anything good for our farmers is good for me.” It is also indicative that a source cited in its report by the WSJ said that Washington is mainly concerned about its trade relationship with China.
At the same time, Beijing, through the mouth of the spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense Jiang Bin, made its limits clear: “”The People’s Liberation Army has strong capabilities and reliable means to defeat any aggressor. If the Japanese side dares to cross the line even half a step and cause trouble for itself, it will inevitably pay a painful price,” Bin said, commenting on Tokyo’s decision to deploy missiles at a military base on Yonaguni Island, an island located about 110 km off Taiwan’s eastern coast. All this, while Takaichi’s stance is applauded according to the latest poll findings, which show that 56% of public opinion fully supports her handling of China.
