Trump and Japanese PM to meet amid escalating tensions around Taiwan
Illustrative photo: Japan actively supports Taiwan (Getty Images)
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump held a phone call on the evening of January 2. Officially, they discussed the possibility of Takaichi visiting the US in spring 2026 — but Taiwan may also have been on the agenda, according to the Japanese outlet Japan Times.
Officially, the Prime Minister told the press that she congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of the United States, discussed the US–Japan alliance with him, and the possibility of her visit to the US in spring 2026.
She said that President Trump had once again invited her to visit the United States and that they had agreed to work out concrete arrangements for her visit that spring.
However, Takaichi avoided giving a clear answer on whether they discussed China’s military exercises around Taiwan, which took place earlier this week. According to the Japanese Prime Minister, she and Trump exchanged views focused on the Indo-Pacific region and confirmed close coordination in light of the current international situation.
The outlet reminds that China hastily conducted the Justice Mission 2025 exercises around Taiwan at the end of 2025. These were the first exercises since Japan, in November, suggested it might intervene if China attempted military action against Taiwan.
Takaichi’s comments sparked hysteria in Beijing, where Chinese authorities demanded that the Japanese Prime Minister retract her words and issued various threats to Japan. However, Tokyo refused to back down — even though the US responded unexpectedly cautiously.
"China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue," said US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott after Japan and other countries expressed concern at the end of December over PLA exercises around Taiwan.
Chinese hysteria 2025: Why Beijing launched drills
Beijing hastily organized military exercises in response to the US announcement that Taiwan would receive a weapons package worth over $11 billion, including missiles, drones, artillery systems, and military software.
The large-scale, urgent, extraordinary drills around Taiwan involved both maritime and air operations, prompting concerns from Western countries and Japan. For the first time, Chinese exercises extended to the 24-mile exclusive zone around Taiwan.
However, US President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of China’s new maneuvers, calling them routine exercises that Beijing has been conducting in the region for many years. Meanwhile, China aggressively responded to criticism from civilized nations, stating that it seeks the "complete reunification" with Taiwan and will deliver a "strong response" to any countries that provide the island with weapons.
