Trump's Asia trip hasn't even started yet, but the drama in Japan has already reached its climax. With Trump about to meet her, Takahashi suddenly fell so ill that she couldn't stand up. The outside world is extremely worried, and the original plan to discuss countering China seems to be in jeopardy.

Takahashi could not stand

As everyone knows, as soon as Takahashi took office, she set up a "three-day work" image for herself, with the slogan "work, work, and work again." After standing firm for five months, this "workaholic" prime minister finally couldn't hold on anymore. A video released by Japanese media shows Takahashi pale-faced, unable to stand at one point, with cabinet ministers gathered around her.

According to the information, on that day, the House of Representatives Budget Committee held a full day meeting. From 9 am to 6 pm, Takahashi sat at her seat all the time. When the meeting ended, she was unable to stand up. That night, she canceled all official duties and returned directly to her residence for rest. The official explanation was "a cold," but Takahashi's condition raised suspicion among the public.

The Japanese political arena has psychological trauma over such matters. Shinzo Abe resigned twice due to health reasons, and each time it triggered political turbulence. Now, with Takahashi's condition, who isn't worried? What worries supporters even more is that the timing of this illness is too inconvenient. According to the original plan, Takahashi was scheduled to meet Trump next week, and there was a big issue to discuss.

Takahashi and Trump

The thing Takahashi wants to talk about is called "GMD," which is the new missile defense system being promoted by the United States, planned to be operational before January 2029. Its core function is to protect the U.S. mainland from missile attacks. According to media reports, Japan plans to join this new American initiative, expanding the defense network from the homeland to space, targeting the hypersonic weapons of China and Russia.

More importantly, Japan and the United States have already begun joint research on a new type of missile called "Glide Phase Interceptor," aiming to complete it in the 2030s. If this meeting can be finalized, Japan's air defense capabilities will take a major step forward. For this trip, Japan is also preparing to introduce the highly confidential "Secure Cloud" system from the U.S., enhancing its intelligence confidentiality capabilities.

The U.S. "GMD" Program

This is why Takahashi was determined to go. This meeting is not just ordinary cooperation; it is the lifeline of Japan's air defense for the next ten years. Additionally, Japan has already announced its first batch of investments in the U.S., totaling $3.6 billion, including a natural gas facility in Ohio, a deep-sea oil export project in the Gulf of Mexico, and a synthetic diamond manufacturing plant. These are all projects that Trump values most under the "America First" policy.

But the problem is that after meeting Takahashi, Trump is planning to visit China. This matter cannot be delayed. Trump's visit to China will involve issues much bigger than "GMD," such as tariffs, high-tech restrictions, and strategic material exports—each of which affects the whole situation. As for Takahashi, it's just about getting some benefits in Japan's own backyard.

Trump's visit to China during his first term

What kind of person is Trump? He values "results," not "processes." If Takahashi can't go or can't reach an agreement, he will turn his attention entirely to China. How much attention will the $550 billion investment from Japan gain? It's uncertain. Therefore, the Japanese political circles are generally worried about whether Takahashi's body can hold out.

For Japan, this interaction may be one of the most important ones in the next decade. But for Trump, it's just one stop on his Asia trip. Who is more urgent, who is more likely to be manipulated. Whether Takahashi can stand up or not, whether Japan's missiles can go into space, and whether Trump's visit to China will affect everything. The answer may lie in the coming week.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7616667778266726952/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.