Japan scrambles to secure US commitment as Trump considers direct China talks

PM Shigeru Ishiba seeks to reassure Washington of Tokyo’s commitment to the US-Japan alliance and its presence in the region, amid concerns over China’s influence

Reading Time:3 minutes

President Donald Trump shakes hands with China’s President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in June 2019. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00am, 30 Jan 2025Updated: 10:29pm, 30 Jan 2025

Fearing that US President Donald Trump might bypass Japan and negotiate security matters directly with China, analysts say Tokyo is scrambling to keep Washington firmly anchored in the Asia-Pacific.

On Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to maintain regional stability and prepare for tough talks with Trump to secure a continued American commitment, describing US involvement as essential “to prevent any power vacuum from destabilising it”.

Ishiba’s government, which has been trying to meet with Trump since his November electoral victory, announced it is arranging a trip to Washington in the coming weeks.

Tomoo Kikuchi, a professor at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University, said Japan’s concern stemmed from its perception that a growing gap in military capability between Beijing and Tokyo, even with US support, would embolden China to challenge the status quo.

“The erratic behaviour of the Trump administration increases Japan’s uncertainty and need for reassurance,” Kikuchi said, adding that “Tokyo dreads that Trump might even negotiate with Xi directly over regional security issues”.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba must convince Donald Trump that Japan-US ties are important. Photo: Kyodo

Days before taking office, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the phone to discuss various issues, including trade and fentanyl. In December, Trump also invited Xi to attend his presidential inauguration, an unprecedented act for a US president. While Xi did not accept the invitation, Vice-President Han Zheng represented China at the event.