Sunday, May 24, 2026- President Donald Trump reportedly defended Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a private summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, according to Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
The report claims Xi sharply criticized Takaichi over her increasingly hardline stance on Taiwan and regional security, describing both her and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as threats to stability in East Asia. Xi reportedly urged Trump not to support leaders pushing tougher policies against Beijing.
According to the report, Trump rejected Xi’s criticism and responded that Takaichi was not the kind of leader who deserved condemnation. The exchange highlights growing geopolitical tensions surrounding Taiwan and the broader power struggle between China, Japan, and the United States.
Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have deteriorated in recent months after Takaichi suggested Japan could respond militarily if China attacked Taiwan — remarks that triggered outrage from Chinese officials and intensified regional security concerns.
The reported conversation is significant because it signals Trump may be taking a firmer public stance in support of Japan despite ongoing efforts to stabilize U.S.-China relations. Shortly after concluding his visit to Beijing, Trump reportedly held a direct phone call with Takaichi, where both leaders reaffirmed what Japan described as an “ironclad” alliance between Washington and Tokyo.
Neither the White House nor Japan’s government has officially confirmed details of the Xi-Trump exchange, but the report is already fueling speculation about how aggressively the United States may respond to future tensions involving Taiwan and China’s growing military influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
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