US President Donald Trump (right) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 22 (local time). [AFP]
US President Donald Trump (right) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 22 (local time). [AFP]

US President Donald Trump urged Chinese President Xi Jinping at last month's US-China summit to speak directly with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with whom Beijing has been at odds since last year, sources said. The development is drawing attention as Trump — who once surprised Japan by describing China as an ally that fought against Japan in World War II — now appears to be stepping in to mediate the China-Japan dispute.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported Friday, citing multiple Japanese government officials, that Trump made the appeal to Xi at their summit on Sept. 24 (local time), then relayed the exchange to Takaichi two days later during a phone call on Saturday.

According to the report, Trump told Takaichi during that call that Xi had criticized Japan's moves regarding the security situation in East Asia at the summit. Trump said he did not side with Xi's position, described Takaichi as a "strong leader," and asked Xi to engage in dialogue with her.

After the phone call with Trump, Takaichi declined to disclose the specifics of their conversation, saying only that the two leaders "confirmed that the US and Japan will work together to contribute to regional and global peace and stability."

China-Japan relations deteriorated sharply after Takaichi suggested last November that Japan would intervene in the event of a Taiwan contingency. Both countries summoned each other's ambassadors at the time, official government dialogue — including summits and foreign minister-level talks — came to a halt, and China banned exports to Japan of some rare earth minerals it said could be used for both civilian and military purposes.

Takaichi has refused to retract the remarks as Beijing demanded, while continuing to stress that communication with China is important and that she remains open to dialogue. She appears to have conveyed that position to Trump at their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22. Takaichi is also said to have rescheduled her UN General Assembly speech to meet with Trump before his summit with Xi.

A senior Japanese government official said the prior coordination was meaningful, calling it "a demonstration of the solid trust between the US and Japanese leaders."

Against this backdrop, attention is now focused on whether a summit between Takaichi and Xi can be arranged at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, next month. Trump is also set to attend APEC and hold talks with Xi. The Yomiuri said Trump's remarks may have been made with an eye toward creating an opportunity for Xi and Takaichi to meet at APEC or a similar international forum.

In an interview with Nippon TV on Thursday, Takaichi again addressed the possibility of meeting Xi at APEC, saying, "I will refrain from making any predictions, but I will continue to communicate steadily and respond calmly and appropriately from the standpoint of national interest."


kate01@heraldcorp.com