Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi meets with US President Trump in New York... Reconfirmation of joint response to Chinese export regulations

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with U.S. President Donald Trump on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the 22nd (local time) and reaffirmed the U.S.-Japan joint response to China's export restrictions and strengthening the alliance's deterrence.

Prime Minister Takaichi met with President Trump for about 35 minutes at the United Nations headquarters on this day.

It has been three months since the two leaders met in person since the G7 summit held in France last June, and it has been half a year since the official meeting between the leaders of the U.S. and Japan was held during Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to Washington, D.C., in March.

The Japanese government has been working hard to promote the U.S.-Japan summit ahead of the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Trump scheduled for the 24th.

In a situation where relations with China have become strained following Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks suggesting intervention in 'Taiwan in case of emergency', it has been interpreted that this is to focus on conveying Japan's position to the United States ahead of closer U.S.-China relations.

Kyodo News reported that the leaders of the United States and Japan agreed at the meeting to further strengthen cooperation in key mineral fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and rare earths, keeping in mind China's export restrictions.

In addition, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including China and North Korea, was discussed, and the United States agreed on Japan's diplomatic policy, the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' (FOIP) policy.

The news agency reported that the leaders of the U.S. and Japan confirmed the need to jointly respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile issues and their determination to achieve North Korea's complete denuclearization, and that President Trump expressed his full support for an immediate resolution of the Japanese kidnapping issue.

In addition, Prime Minister Takaichi reportedly conveyed Japan's position that it values ​​the rule of law in response to the United States' increasing pressure on the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is headed by a Japanese person.

At this meeting, Prime Minister Takaichi showed his friendliness by referring to President Trump by his first name, “Donald,” rather than his last name, as he did at the previous U.S.-Japan summit.

He emphasized, "I would like to thank Donald once again for his very strong involvement in the U.S.-Japan alliance. Holding a summit meeting in a situation where the security environment, including in Asia, is very serious will show the world the solidity of the U.S.-Japan alliance."

President Trump also praised her, saying, "She is my friend. She will be one of the great prime ministers whose name will remain in history."

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki, who was present at the meeting, told reporters, "It is very important to reaffirm the unwavering U.S.-Japan alliance through solid discussions at a time when the U.S.-China summit is scheduled for two days later."

He said, “I heard from the U.S. that only extremely limited bilateral meetings were coordinated,” and noted that the success of this bilateral meeting was proof of the personal bond between Prime Minister Takaichi and President Trump.

Attending the U.S.-Japan summit on the Japanese side were Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Ozaki, Director of the National Security Agency Keiichi Ichikawa, and Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shigeo Yamada.

On the U.S. side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, Commerce Secretary Howard Rutnick, and White House Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles were present.