[Gaoshan's Efforts to Lobby Trump for a Visit to Japan in November Face Setback]

According to sources familiar with the matter, as President Trump prepares for his annual Asian trip next month, the absence of Japan from the White House’s official itinerary has prompted the Gaoshan administration to intensify lobbying efforts to secure a visit to Japan—ideally before Trump travels to Shenzhen, China. Despite these attempts, no clear indication has emerged that Trump will include Japan in this year’s Asian tour.

Since Gaoshan’s “Taiwan is an issue” remarks last November triggered a deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations, each time U.S.-China summits are scheduled, Gaoshan has sought to precede them with a meeting with Trump. This pattern repeated ahead of Trump’s visit to China earlier this year and again prior to the September summit between the two nations. Now, with Trump planning to attend an event in Shenzhen in November, Gaoshan is attempting the same strategy—aiming to meet Trump in Japan before his arrival in China, in hopes of influencing subsequent U.S.-China talks.

Thus far, however, there has been no sign that Trump intends to visit Japan. According to sources, Trump is scheduled to attend the ASEAN Summit in Manila, where Gaoshan is also expected to be present. Given that the two leaders would inevitably meet in Manila, a separate visit to Japan appears redundant.

Japan, however, views the visit differently. Officials emphasize the symbolic importance of a presidential trip to Tokyo, particularly as U.S.-China relations show signs of improvement. Japan sees such a visit as a reaffirmation of the strength and continuity of the U.S.-Japan alliance.

A scholar at Waseda University noted that Japan seeks to maintain strategic leverage in its relationship with the United States, and that Gaoshan’s public approval ratings are, to some extent, tied to her perceived effectiveness in managing ties with Washington.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879293310201868/

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