Japanese Lawmaker Calls for Monitoring Trump's Taiwan Comments in Xi Meeting
Former Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera stated that Tokyo will watch U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on Taiwan during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Any deviation from Trump's past statements could significantly impact U.S. allies. The remarks come amid strained Japan-China relations over Taiwan.
Official White House Photo by Molly Riley / Wikimedia (Public domain)U.S. President Donald Trump about Taiwan in his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Onodera, a Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker, spoke during a symposium hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
U.S. allies. Onodera stressed that the United States needs to continue taking a resolute stance against China, according to the Japan Times.
U.S. engagement in East Asia is unwavering.
U.S. Policy toward the region. Japan's relations with China have deteriorated due to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary remark last November that China's possible use of force against Taiwan could constitute a survival-threatening situation for Japan. In such a situation, Japan could exercise its right to collective self-defense, as per Takaichi's remark.
China considers Taiwan to be at the center of its core interests. The upcoming Trump-Xi meeting occurs as Trump is distancing himself from the Japan-China confrontation, Japan Times reported.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
5 events- 2026-05-04
Itsunori Onodera spoke at CSIS symposium, indicating Tokyo would watch Trump's Taiwan remarks and warning of impact on U.S. allies if deviated.
1 sourceJapan Times - 2026-05-04
Fumitake Fujita stated at CSIS symposium that he wants Trump to show unwavering U.S. engagement in East Asia.
1 sourceJapan Times - 2025-11
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made parliamentary remark that China's possible use of force against Taiwan could be survival-threatening for Japan, allowing collective self-defense.
1 sourceJapan Times - ongoing
Japan's relations with China have deteriorated due to Takaichi's remark.
1 sourceJapan Times - later this month (2026-05)
Upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
1 sourceJapan Times
Potential Impact
- 01
Further deterioration in Japan-China relations amid Taiwan tensions.
- 02
Calls for resolute U.S. stance against China from Japanese officials.
- 03
Potential strain on U.S.-Japan alliance if Trump deviates on Taiwan stance.
- 04
Influence on U.S. policy in East Asia, possibly weakening engagement.
Transparency Panel
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