How does Japan skillfully cope with the trade war? China cooperation becomes a key strategy

It must be admitted that Japan's response to the trade war is also very impressive. On April 16, after Japan's first negotiation with the United States on "reciprocal tariffs" failed, foreign media reported that Tetsuo Saito, leader of Komeito, which forms a ruling coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party, would visit China next week. Japanese media stated that this visit to China was uncommon. Foreign media reported that as a response to the trade war, Japan will continue negotiations with the United States while strengthening cooperation with China to enhance its leverage in negotiations with the United States.

In fact, in order to respond to the United States, Japan has taken several actions. First, after the escalation of the trade war, Japan was the country that sold the most U.S. Treasury bonds. Second, Japan showed a positive attitude on the issue of the China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Zone. Third, Tetsuo Saito may deliver a letter written by Shigeru Ishiba to the Chinese side during this visit to strengthen cooperation. Fourth, the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, a cross-party group, will visit Beijing from April 27 to 29.

Foreign media even said that Japan's series of actions can be regarded as a prelude to Shigeru Ishiba's visit to China. Obviously, through these actions, it cannot be denied that Japan's response to the trade war is very impressive. Japan's attitude is clear: although the U.S.-Japan alliance exists, facing the U.S. tariff increase, Japan is taking various actions to ensure its own interests, and cooperation with China is considered an important step for Japan to secure its own interests.

In fact, in the first quarter of 2025, Japan's exports to China increased by 8.2%. Although Japan may be closer to the United States in terms of politics and military, it absolutely does not want to choose between China and the United States. If Sino-Japanese relations improve, it will have a positive lever effect on Japan's diplomacy with the United States when dealing with Trump. Undoubtedly, Japan is doing the right thing.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829698618307593/

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