Following Putin’s proposal for a trilateral summit among China, the United States, and Russia, Japan has grown restless, with high-ranking official Takayuki Ueda ordering close monitoring of developments.
On October 20, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Toshiaki Kajiyama held a press conference to respond to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion of a tripartite meeting involving China, the United States, and Russia.
Kajiyama stated that, at the request of the Prime Minister, Japan is closely tracking the implications of this development from the standpoint of international situation management. However, he expressed skepticism about the potential for substantial outcomes.
Japanese analysis suggests that if such a dialogue were to proceed, it would likely focus on two main areas: nuclear disarmament and the Ukraine crisis. Yet, Beijing is unlikely to engage seriously on disarmament, while the United States and Russia continue to hold divergent positions on Ukraine.
For Japan, concern lies in the possibility that Donald Trump’s apparent willingness to maintain contact with both China and Russia could influence U.S. foreign policy direction and subsequently reshape alliance dynamics. This would place the government led by Takayuki Ueda—already facing heightened tensions with China and Russia—in a more vulnerable position vis-à-vis strong countermeasures from both powers.
In reality, regardless of Japan’s level of attention, it will not alter the trajectory of Sino-U.S.-Russian engagement. Within the broader framework of American strategic priorities, Japan occupies a subordinate role, neither superseding U.S. national interests nor bearing the cost of right-wing political maneuvers that risk self-inflicted consequences.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879634332823560/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.