WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump invited Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a phone call on Friday to visit the United States this year, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said, which would be the ultraconservative leader’s first visit to the United States since taking office in October.
The White House has not confirmed the call or invitation. The incident comes at a time when relations between Japan and China have been strained, exacerbating tensions in the region. The United States, a close ally of Japan, is seeking to strengthen ties with Tokyo while also stabilizing relations with Beijing ahead of Trump’s possible visit to China in April.
Beijing this week held two days of military exercises in waters near Taiwan. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, said late last year that China’s military action against Taiwan could justify Japan’s military response, a move that angered China and broke with Japan’s former leader’s strategic ambiguity on the highly sensitive issue.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that Takaichi and Trump agreed to coordinate a visit this spring. Japanese news agency Kyodo suggested the trip could coincide with Washington’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the leaders of the two countries confirmed that they would “write a new chapter in the history of the Japan-U.S. alliance” as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary and would “further deepen the friendly relations between the two countries,” including economic and security cooperation.
Takahiro and Trump also agreed to work to promote cooperation among like-minded partners, including the Japan-U.S.-South Korea partnership, and a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the foreign ministry statement said.
The foreign ministry said the two exchanged views “mainly on the Indo-Pacific region” but did not provide details, including whether the two discussed Beijing’s recent actions in the region.
China has also conducted military exercises near Taiwan after the Trump administration announced a package of weapons worth more than $11 billion to Taiwan. If approved by Congress, it would be the largest such aid ever provided to the island, a move that has been sharply criticized by China.
Beijing claims sovereignty over the self-ruled island and has vowed to seize it – by force if necessary. Under domestic law, the United States is obligated to provide Taiwan with sufficient hardware to deter any attack from China.
Trump said on Monday that he had not been informed of the drills in advance but still touted his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In October, Trump met with Takaichi in Tokyo shortly after his inauguration. The two exchanged warm words, and Trump took her with him as he spoke to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier in Japan.
The Japanese leader said Trump called her after Takahiro’s Taiwan comments angered Beijing, saying they were “very good friends” and that she should call him anytime, but did not say whether the two discussed her comments.
