Shocked by Trump’s Approach to China

In the second summit of this year between the United States and China, the leaders, Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, focused on coordination of those two big powers on some issues. To be a regret of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who had had a meeting with Trump two days before, Trump and Xi shared notion that the U.S. and China had fought against Japan in the World War II. Takaichi insisted that Japan and the U.S. still were allies, regardless of historical antagonism. 

Two leaders showed some differences in crucial issues. On Taiwan, Xi demanded the U.S. to “adhere to the correct position of opposing ‘Taiwan independence.’” It is unclear how Trump responded to that. The U.S. has been taking a position that it approves one China, but maintain status quo and do not support independence of Taiwan. With request of China not to export weapons to Taiwan, Trump has not approved the export this year.

 

The leaders also discussed artificial intelligence, on which those two countries have been intensively competing each other. “AI must be kept under human control. A people-centered approach should be upheld, and AI should be developed for the positive and for good, so that AI will serve the progress of humanity,” said Xi. On the other hand, Trump has insisted on maintaining America’s lead over China, calling AI super intelligence.

 

Two governments announced next day that they agreed to launch “super intelligence” dialogue. Takaichi proposed an “AI summit” hosted by Japan at the earliest opportunity in her speech at General Assembly of the United Nations. It is unclear how this initiative was connected with the dialogue between the U.S. and China and whether those two major powers would join the summit.

 

Amazing enough for Takaichi, Trump and Xi interpreted history that Japan had been the enemy of them in the ceremonies of bilateral summit. “Over 80 years ago, the Chinese and American people stood shoulder on shoulder in the fight against Japanese militarist aggressions,” Xi said in the state dinner with Trump. Xi described the friendship between two countries as “forged in blood and fire.”

 

In a welcoming ceremony before the summit meeting, Trump cerebrated close relationship of both nations. “Throughout history, the pursuit of those common interests has connected our people across vast oceans, those big, tremendous distances and many differences, and even made us allies in World War II,” said Trump. It gave a great impact on Japanese media that Trump called China a former ally.

 

In her speech to the General Assembly, Takaichi demanded the U.N. to delete enemy states clause from its Charter. The exchange by Trump and Xi may discourage Takaichi’s demand to the U.N. Firmly believing that the U.S. is an indispensable ally of Japan, Takaichi commented on close relationship between Japan and the U.S. “Although we had a war, Japan and the U.S. reconciled, built close relationship and are confident each other with strong ties as allies,” Takaichi said to the reporters. But she refused commenting on U.S.-China relations.

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