The President of the United States advised the Japanese Prime Minister not to provoke China with the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported this Thursday, 27th, following the Sino-Japanese diplomatic dispute.
Relations between Asia’s two largest economies are going through a difficult time after, in early November, the new Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, stated that Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of an attack on Taiwan, an island that Beijing considers part of Chinese territory.
During a telephone call with US President Donald Trump on Monday, his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, insisted on this matter, stating that Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the “post-war international order”, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Shortly afterwards, “Trump organized a call with Takaichi and advised her not to provoke Beijing over the issue of the island’s sovereignty”, reported the daily WSJ, citing, although without identifying, Japanese officials and an American who are familiar with the conversation.
“Trump’s opinion was subtle and he did not pressure her to go back on her statements”, the newspaper reads.
However, Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara declined today to confirm whether Trump asked Takaichi to moderate his tone regarding Taiwan.
“In the telephone conversation the other day, we discussed many issues, such as strengthening relations between Japan and the US and the situation and problems in the Indo-Pacific (…). I avoid giving further details because it is a diplomatic matter,” Kihara said during the daily press conference.
In the report of the call, the head of the Japanese Government limited herself to indicating that she spoke with Donald Trump about his conversation with Xi Jinping, as well as about relations between the two allies.
“President Trump said that we were very close friends and suggested that I call him at any time,” said the Japanese leader.
According to the WSJ, however, “Japanese officials found the message worrying.”
“The President [norte-americano] did not want tensions around Taiwan to compromise the opening reached last month with Xi, which includes the promise [da China] to buy more North American agricultural products in order to support farmers severely affected by the trade war”, triggered by the North American leader, estimated the newspaper.
Following Sanae Takaichi’s statements, China summoned Japan’s ambassador and advised the population to avoid traveling to the archipelago.
The release of several Japanese films in China has also been postponed, according to Chinese state media.