Japan, US May Meet Before Xi-Trump Summit
SingTao · 3 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to visit New York from Monday to Thursday next week to attend the United Nations General Assembly, where she will deliver an address. Japanese and US officials are making final arrangements for a meeting between Takaichi and US President Donald Trump, with Kyodo News reporting that the talks are being lined up for Tuesday, September 22. The proposed meeting would take place before Trump’s expected summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, as Tokyo seeks to align views with Washington on China-related issues. Takaichi also wants to discuss security, economic cooperation and the importance of the US-Japan alliance during her stay in New York.
Key Points
- Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced Takaichi will visit New York from Monday to Thursday for the UN General Assembly general debate speech
- Japanese media, citing diplomatic sources, said Takaichi is coordinating a meeting with Trump in New York on Tuesday, September 22.
- Trump is expected to hold a summit with Xi on Thursday, making the proposed US-Japan talks two days earlier.
- Tokyo wants to explain Japan’s position as Sino-Japanese relations continue to worsen and to coordinate understanding on China-related issues.
- Attention is also on whether Takaichi will directly oppose US sanctions on International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane during the meeting.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the timing matters because any US-Japan coordination before the Xi-Trump summit could shape the tone of upcoming US-China exchanges on regional security and economic issues. The reports also suggest Tokyo is trying to reduce uncertainty over how Washington may handle China-related questions, including Taiwan, ahead of a politically sensitive period in the United States