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Shaimaa Khalil
Tokyo correspondent
Watch: Trump and Japanese PM meet on the White House
If Japan wanted reassurances it was certainly nonetheless the US’s high ally and good friend within the more and more unstable Asia-Pacific, it obtained that after which some.
But what was placing concerning the Trump-Ishiba assembly on the White House was what did not occur.
Unlike a lot of the Trump home and international dynamics to this point, this was neither controversial nor confrontational.
“On television, he is very frightening,” Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba instructed reporters after Friday’s assembly.
“But when I met him, he was very sincere, very powerful and strong willed,” he added.
There’s quite a bit that ties Washington and Tokyo. Japan has been the highest international investor within the US for 5 consecutive years, creating 1000’s of jobs. And there are 54,000 US army personnel stationed in Japan.
But President Donald Trump has given his associates and foes quite a bit to fret about: from tariff wars towards China, Canada and Mexico to his US “ownership” of Gaza proposal and his sanctions towards the International Criminal Court.
“Trump has made some erratic decisions towards countries that believed themselves to be America’s friends,” stated Jeffrey Hall, lecturer at Japan’s Kanda University of International Studies.
“There was a fear in Tokyo that the same might happen: that Trump might slap huge tariffs on Japan or start some dispute. But that didn’t happen,” he added.
Trump ‘research classes’
While Trump did not rule out tariffs towards Tokyo, it wasn’t the principle function of this assembly.
Ishiba went to Washington ready. He’d studied. Literally. he held “study sessions” with employees and sought recommendation from his predecessor, Fumio Kishida.
He additionally had some assist from the widow of the late former PM Shinzo Abe, who had a detailed relationship with Trump throughout his first presidency, solid on the golf course.
Ishiba’s homework paid off.
Apart from when Trump mistakenly referred to Nippon Steel as “Nissan”, there weren’t many eye-raising second like the various different bulletins by the US president.
In reality – so far as Japan is worried – this assembly was reassuring.
Getty Images
Japan has been the highest international investor within the US for 5 years working
Both leaders appeared to have met eye-to-eye on their international locations’ plans to spice up commerce and defence ushering in a “golden-era” of Japan-US relations.
Ishiba introduced his nation’s plans to extend funding within the US to $1tn (£806bn), as the 2 financial powers rebalance commerce relations.
Ishiba stated Japanese automobile makers would enhance funding, whereas Tokyo would increase imports of US liquified pure fuel (LNG).
This would have been music to Trump’s ears and a lift to his “drill, baby, drill” announcement from his inauguration speech.
The two males additionally managed to search out frequent floor on the controversial problem of Nippon Steel.
Trump stated Nippon would “invest heavily” within the Pennsylvania-based US Steel with out taking a majority stake.
The Japanese agency’s tried takeover of US Steel had been beforehand blocked by President Joe Biden on nationwide safety grounds.
Keeping talks easy
There have been sufficient containers ticked for Japan to breathe simple – however the principle function of Ishiba’s go to was private.
The Japanese PM has been in a fraught political place at dwelling – along with his minority authorities protecting a weak grip on energy after it was humiliated in October’s basic elections after they misplaced their ruling majority.
Ishiba was determined for a win.
The man himself has not elicited a lot confidence in how he would fare reverse a infamous Trump.
“For weeks local media played up the idea that he would not succeed diplomatically – that he was clumsy, not a sociable person and that Trump would eat his lunch, if he made it to Washington,” stated Mr Hall.
But Ishiba is strolling away with what seems to be quite a bit like success.
The former Japanese defence minister is a veteran politician recognized for dense speeches in parliament. Observers have stated such speeches handle to confuse a few of his opponents and bore others.
But in a “Trump strategy meeting” along with his employees, the most important piece of recommendation he reportedly obtained was: “Conclusion first. Keep it simple.”
“Ishiba followed a play book to flatter Trump personally and offer him economic investments in the US instead of confronting him”, stated Mr Hall.
Avoiding confrontation
There are a number of points that Japan and the US might disagree on. Not least Trump’s proposal of a US takeover of the Gaza Strip, which sparked fierce criticism all over the world.
Japan reiterated its long-standing place of supporting a two-state answer.
“We won’t change our stance,” stated Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya final week.
Tokyo can be watching Trump’s commerce warfare with China nervously.
But Hall stated Japan wouldn’t be drawn into the US-China commerce warfare if it might assist it.
When it involves China, Japan must strike a high-quality stability.
Beijing is Tokyo’s largest buying and selling associate. China is among the largest funding locations for Japanese corporations.
On the defence and diplomatic entrance each the US and Japan are challenged by China’s rising affect and assertiveness within the area and globally.
Not least with Chinese army’s now frequent and provocative strikes in waters close to Taiwan which Beijing sees as a renegade province.
In 2022, Japan, a pacifist nation, introduced it will double its army spending by 2027, citing threats posed by China and North Korea, and saying it will purchase the power to strike enemy bases.
The adjustments marked probably the most dramatic overhaul to Japan’s safety technique because it adopted a pacifist structure after World War Two.
With North Korea persevering with its nuclear program, South Korea in political meltdown, and the continuing US-China rivalry, Japan has but once more offered itself as America’s least difficult and solely unproblematic good friend within the area.
“Japan will avoid any conformation with Trump when possible. It will most likely become a ‘yes’ friend,” stated Hall.
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