Donald Trump and Japan PM project unity in countering China on economic, security fronts

US president hails potential sale of US$900 million worth of cutting-edge missiles to Tokyo as island nation jockeys with Beijing in region

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Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a book presented to him by US President Donald Trump during a news conference in Washington on Friday. Photo: AP

Published: 6:58am, 8 Feb 2025Updated: 8:33am, 8 Feb 2025

America and Japan projected unity in their efforts to counter China on economic and security fronts and reaffirmed their commitment to a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, as US President Donald Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday.

In a joint press conference at the White House with the Japanese leader, Trump noted the approval of nearly US$1 billion in foreign military sales to Tokyo this week and vowed to bolster US military might.

When asked about American military readiness vis-a-vis China, the president said he expected the US to have “the strongest military by far in the world, far stronger than China, far stronger than anybody”.

Trump hailed the potential sale of US$900 million worth of Standard Missile-6 Block I missiles as a show of his administration’s commitment to Japan, which has jockeyed with China for decades over a territorial dispute in the strategically vital region.

The SM-6 is unique in that is is reportedly capable of performing anti-air, anti-ship and anti-ballistic missile missions.

Trump and Ishiba promised to work “closely together to maintain peace and security”, with the president adding: “I also say peace through strength, all over the Indo-Pacific.”