Takaichi Approaches Trump

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, made a state visit to Japan on October 27th and had a summit meeting with Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, next day. In the first face-to-face meeting with him, Takaichi treated the president with pledges of boosting defense budget, which would contribute to lightening U.S. security burden in Asia, and menu of private investment amounting to 60 trillion yen. They declared “golden age” of Japan-U.S. alliance.

Takaichi did everything Trump likes. The title of joint statement was named after Trump’s 2025 inaugural address which said “The golden age of America begins right now.” Knowing that Trump loves playing golf, she presented a set of gold-gilded golf balls and tees and a putter used by late former prime minister Shinzo Abe with whom Trump embraced friendship in his first term.

 

The proposals from Takaichi were aligned with preference of Trump. Takaichi explained that Japan would grapple with further increase of defense budget, which was expected to accelerate reaching the 2 percent goal against GDP. The coalition agreement between the Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party right before inauguration of Takaichi Cabinet includes removal of five-points regulation for exporting defense equipment. It is interpreted to be a measure for purchasing more U.S. products.

 

In 2018, Abe decided to buy F-35 fighter jets, missiles or unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, RQ-4 Global Hawk, from the U.S., when Trump, frustrated with Japan’s surplus in trade, indicated higher tariff on Japanese cars. Takaichi’s offer of reinforcing Japan’s defense capability must be an appeal to Trump as the successor of Abe. The meeting was covered by nostalgia for Abe, indeed.

 

Another thing Trump liked was business. The leaders two country congratulated implementation of their bilateral deal fixed in July, which included 550 billion dollars of Japan’s investment to the U.S. They exchanged a factsheet on Japan-U.S. 60 trillion yen of investment which expected involvement of Japanese corporations. The investments included construction of nuclear reactors by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toshiba or construction of small module reactors by Hitachi.

 

Both governments also agreed on establishing new framework for securing critical minerals and rare earths. They would commit cooperation in development of artificial intelligence, quantum technology and biotechnology, and in expansion of shipbuilding capacity.

 

These agreements of Japan and U.S. are based on their concern about China’s geopolitical and technological advance. Trump is planning to visit China after leaving Japan and have a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is likely that those bilateral agreements are gifts from Takaichi to Trump as diplomatic cards of the U.S. toward China.

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