On Thursday, when President Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Hashimoto Yoriko at the White House, he was asked why the US did not inform its allies such as Japan before taking military action against Iran. He replied that the US needed "surprise," and then made a joke about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, saying, "Who understands surprise attacks better than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?" This statement immediately caused embarrassment and added controversy to the meeting, which had originally focused on Iran's war and coordination with allies. This remark came at a time when Hashimoto was visiting the US, discussing with Trump the protection of the Hormuz Strait and Japan's role in the Middle East situation. Reuters previously reported that Hashimoto's visit was already in a sensitive balance, needing to respond to the US request for allies to share the risks, while also explaining what Japan "can do" and "cannot do." At this moment, Trump's joke about Pearl Harbor would certainly further increase the pressure on Tokyo both domestically and internationally.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860160445974537/
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