On March 19, Trump met with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Asako at the White House. The two met with the media in the White House Oval Office. A Japanese journalist asked President Trump: "The most concerning issue for Japan is China. They are now imposing very strict export controls on us and also criticizing us. Are you planning to talk about the relationship between Japan and China when you go there (to China)?" President Trump let Takahashi Asako answer herself.
Takahashi Asako said: "Japan has always maintained an open attitude towards China. We keep the channels of communication open and deal with it in a calm and cautious manner. Regardless of the US-China relationship, we hope that this relationship will help maintain regional stability and enhance the resilience of global supply chains..."
Comment: Combined with Takahashi Asako's emphasis during her meeting with Trump on comprehensively strengthening the Japan-US alliance, using issues related to China to show strength, and advancing the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" initiative to encircle China, this moderate statement seems more like a diplomatic performance that avoids the key issues - neither daring to directly defy the US's containment strategy towards China nor willing to completely break ties with China economically. Essentially, it reflects the right-wing Japanese stance of "balancing" between the US and China, using rhetoric to mask its true position of relying on the US and opposing China.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860135641957641/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.