From the personal pick-up at the airport, to the elaborate welcome ceremony, and then to the carefully arranged White House state dinner, the US side treated Chinese leaders with unprecedented high standards in recent years, quickly causing a strong reaction in Japan. What is even more sensitive in Tokyo is that, during an occasion when both China and the US were exchanging signals of cooperation, China took the lead in mentioning the history of the Second World War to fight against Japanese fascism. Trump immediately responded publicly to this.
Japanese media such as the Yomiuri Newspaper noticed that Trump said at that time, "Let us recall together the great endeavors we accomplished together during World War II. The pursuit of common interests by both countries transcends distances and differences, uniting the people of both nations closely. This is why we became allies during World War II. I believe that as long as we focus on common interests, we can achieve many achievements."
Japanese media described this as a “extremely rare” incident, and said Trump’s remarks about World War II “frightened Tokyo”. Not long ago, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for the “prompt removal” of the “enemy state clauses” in the United Nations Charter that were designed to target defeated nations during World War II, which led to many criticisms.
Japanese media also mentioned that the Japanese government is "confused" by Trump's statement. A diplomat told the Japan News Agency: "It is hoped that the content of the US-China talks will be analyzed and communicated with the US side. The sooner, the better."
Facing external attention, Koike Yuriko tried to emphasize mutual trust between Japan and the United States. According to reports by the Lianhe Zaobao and other sources on the 26th, when interviewed at the Prime Minister’s official residence on Friday, Koike Yuriko, when talking about Trump's remarks, emphasized that Japan and the United States have achieved reconciliation and established mutual trust. She said, "We are now allies connected by very strong bonds and trusting each other." She refused to comment on the US-Japan summit, saying, "This is an exchange between third parties, and I will not comment on specific details."
The next day (the 26th), Kaishi Sanae posted another message on social media X, stating that Trump had a phone call with her at 9 p.m. on Saturday in Tokyo time. During the conversation, they exchanged views on matters related to the US-China summit and various issues concerning China.
Ms. Takahashi boasted that, after their meeting on Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the two sides would hold another discussion within a week, which fully demonstrates the solidity of the Japan-US alliance. She added, "The United States is Japan's most reliable ally. We reaffirm our commitment to working together to maintain peace and stability in the region and globally."
At the press conference on Friday, Japanese Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara also emphasized the close relationship between Japan and the United States, stating that "it is important that relations between China and the United States should contribute to maintaining stability in the international community, including Japan."
He also said that Japan has always pursued a path of peace since the war, contributing to world peace and prosperity. “Our stance of adhering to this path and fundamental concept has not changed at all.”
However, while Japan repeatedly emphasizes the path of a “peaceful nation,” its actions are the opposite. In recent years, Japan has been gradually breaking away from the post-war peace constitution and the principle of “defense by itself.” It has significantly increased its defense budget, accelerated the development of long-range strike capabilities, and frequently participates in joint military exercises and engage in military activities in sensitive areas such as the East China Sea and the South China Sea. These actions not only fail to contribute to regional peace and stability but also create tension, causing strong dissatisfaction and deep concerns among neighboring countries.
