Washington– The meeting held by the Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaishi At the White House on Thursday, it initially looked like an excellent opportunity for the president Donald Trump He gave permission before embarking on a trip to China.
But now, the war in Iran and Trump’s war Unsuccessful invitation to Japan and other countries To help protect the Strait of Hormuz means The China trip has been postponed Takaichi is likely to get a lot of criticism.
Trump has repeatedly complained in front of cameras and online about US allies, including Japan I refused his request To help protect the vital waterway for oil and gas transportation.
“In fact, when I speak as President of the United States of America, the most powerful country in the world to ever exist, we don’t need anyone’s help!” Trump exclaimed on Truth Social after his initial call for help was rebuffed.
The Prime Minister admitted before leaving Japan that she expected to meet with Trump It will be “very difficult.” She and her ministers denied that Washington had officially requested Japanese warships to participate in the US-Israeli operation.
Japan, a key US ally in Asia, is one of the countries Trump mentioned on Tuesday when he criticized the lack of aid in the Strait of Hormuz before declaring the aid was not needed.
Kurt Campbell, a former US deputy secretary of state in the Biden administration who now heads the Asia Group, said Trump was expected to put “enormous pressure” on Takaishi.
Campbell said he had never seen a meeting between the American and Japanese leaders carry such high risks. He said that in order to press for Japan’s interests, Takaishi would want to find a way to signal that Japan is part of the American plan in the Middle East.
“She will want to come out of that as a partner on this issue and realize that if she can do that, she can translate that into the president listening more to Japan’s concerns about Taiwan or other issues,” Campbell said.
Limitations on Japan’s involvement in Iran include a post-World War II clause Constitution that prohibits the use of force Except to defend its territory. The country’s army is called the Self-Defense Force.
Japan could help clear mines, and has had a “small naval presence” in the region as part of an anti-piracy mission for at least a decade, said Christopher Johnston, partner and head of the Asia Group’s defense and national security practice. But joining the American mission would require Takaishi to cross “the exceptionally high political bar to invoke collective self-defense,” something that has never been done before.
Takaishi who was her First meeting with Trump In October in Tokyo, she is Japan’s first female prime minister and a disciple of former leader Shinzo Abe, who developed a political system. Close relationship with Trump.
She is also a hardline conservative and long-time supporter of Taiwan, whose comments about Japan’s willingness to provide military support to the island Tensions with China increased.
Before her meeting with Trump, Takaishi sought to focus on trade, strengthening US-Japan relations and security concerns. Japanese officials said that the two sides will work to deepen cooperation in the areas of regional security, vital minerals, energy, and dealing with China.
China looks to self-governing TaiwanWhich the United States depends on to produce computer chips, as it is a sovereign territory, and has said it will seize it by force if necessary.
But beyond questions about assistance in the Strait of Hormuz, the global fallout from the Iran war has also put the Japanese leader in a more difficult position with Trump as she seeks to ensure US commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Japan China is considered a growing security threat It sent military reinforcements to the southwestern islands near the East China Sea. But the United States did Transfer some troops Stationed in Japan to the Middle East, removing the check against China’s power.
Takaichi is expected to raise concerns about the troop changes with Trump because they come at the same time as China launches a slew of drills around Taiwan.
“This raises the possibility that the United States is — once again — distracted and entangled in the Middle East at a time when the deterrence problem in East Asia has never been greater,” Johnston said.
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Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.