Takayama quickly responds.
Japanese media report that remarks by China and the United States regarding World War II have raised concerns in Japan. China stated that the people of China and the United States jointly resisted Japanese militarism during WWII. Meanwhile, Trump referred to China as a "partner" of the U.S. during the war. On September 25, Prime Minister Takayama said in an interview that although Japan and the U.S. had once been at war, they have since reconciled and now stand as close, trusted allies.
Takayama’s rapid response reveals underlying anxieties within Japan. In recent weeks, she has taken a series of high-profile actions: meeting with Trump ahead of the China-U.S. summit, calling for the removal of the “enemy state” clause at the UN General Assembly, and seeking a phone call with Trump after the bilateral meeting. The consistent thread across these moves is a singular fear—being sidelined. There is growing apprehension that a thawing in Sino-American relations could leave Japan marginalized. Particularly troubling is Trump’s renewed reference to China and the U.S. as wartime “allies,” which effectively underscores that Japan was once a shared adversary. Takayama’s urgent emphasis on reconciliation and alliance status appears less like diplomacy and more like an attempt to deflect a narrative that threatens Japan’s historical standing.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877406323000320/
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