[Source/Observer Network, Wang Yi] The first round of tariff negotiations between Japan and the US made little progress. Before the second round of negotiations began on May 1, several Japanese politicians, who were "anxious and impatient", brought up China again to hype up the situation, implying that if an agreement was not reached with the US in the near future, it would give China a chance to take advantage.

According to a report by the Hong Kong South China Morning Post on May 1, a Japanese politician stated that distrust between the US and Japan might create an opportunity for China to enhance its regional status.

Nobumitsu Ohyoda, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan's Upper House, hyped up at an event hosted by the Brookings Institution on April 30, saying, "China is taking this opportunity to portray the US as a risky partner."

"This is not just about tariffs," Nobusuke Kono, chairman of the LDP's Policy Research Council, also followed up by hyping up at the same event, stating that economic, national security, and food security issues are all interconnected. Trump's tariffs not only pose a threat to economic partnerships but also have "great impacts" on the "national security framework and global frameworks."

Nobusuke Kono, chairman of the LDP's Policy Research Council, Reuters

Kono insinuated that if the deadlock between the US and one of its most important allies in the Indo-Pacific region is not resolved, it may trigger a chain reaction. Allies like South Korea and India in the region may delay actions, which is not conducive to the US plan to rely on these allies to "unite against China."

The deadlock Kono referred to is the ongoing tariff negotiation between the US and Japan. On so-called "Liberation Day" on April 2, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 10% "minimum benchmark tariff" on all countries and higher "reciprocal tariffs" on some countries including Japan. Subsequently, the White House suspended the "reciprocal tariffs" imposed on some countries, but the 10% benchmark tariff and the 25% tariff on imported cars, steel, and aluminum products to the US remain effective.

Japan is currently negotiating these tariffs with the US. Although Japan was one of the first countries to negotiate with the US after the announcement of the "reciprocal tariffs," the first round of negotiations held on April 16 did not release signals of imminent agreement. Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Prime Minister, made his strongest statement since the start of the tariff war on April 21 in a parliamentary session, stating that Japan will not yield to US demands for the sake of reaching an agreement.

Trump and Akira Arai, social media

Before the second round of tariff negotiations began, Nobusuke Kono and other Japanese politicians such as Junichiro Koizumi, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, went to the US to seek support. They claimed at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank on April 28 that tariffs not only harm the bilateral economic relationship between Japan and the US but also affect the security framework in the Asia-Pacific region.

Kono even took ASEAN countries hardest hit by Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" as examples, stating that these countries should be friends of the US, but due to Trump's tariffs, the relationship between the US and the region may become distant, and ASEAN countries may lean towards China.

Junichiro Koizumi then volunteered, saying that Japan can act as a bridge between the US and Asian countries, "preventing China from filling the void left by the US."

"China will intervene where the US withdraws and exert its influence. Against this backdrop, Japan can do many things, including in relations with China," Junichiro Koizumi declared, asserting that the US will definitely need Japan at some point, and Japan also needs the US.

Regarding the "small tricks" of Japanese politicians dragging economic and trade negotiations into national security issues, Trump was not convinced. According to the Asahi Shimbun, Trump directly stated after attending the first round of tariff negotiations between the US and Japan that national security issues will not be directly linked to tariff negotiations.

Trump has always been dissatisfied with the "one-sided" nature of the US-Japan alliance. He reiterated his dissatisfaction with the low sales of US-made cars in Japan and the imbalance in bilateral security relations during the first round of tariff negotiations.

Asahi Shimbun reported that the US urged Japan to import more American-made cars and agricultural products during the first round of negotiations. After returning, the Japanese side re-examined the "non-tariff barriers" proposed by Washington and considered relaxing regulations as a bargaining chip to obtain concessions from the US on tariff issues.

According to sources cited by Kyodo News, Japan plans to make several compromises during the second round of tariff negotiations held on May 1: expand the quota for duty-free imports of US rice, increase imports of US rice and soybeans; simplify safety and environmental review processes for imported vehicles; and cooperate with the US to enhance shipbuilding capabilities.

The Japanese side's urgent desire to reach a negotiation has been fully "grasped" by the US side. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who is responsible for negotiating with Japan, boasted to reporters at the White House on April 29, stating that Japan and South Korea are "actually more eager to sit down and negotiate, complete this matter, and then go home to tout it as a campaign point."

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7499353749245166121/

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