Despite Japan’s delegation visiting China and publicly expressing intentions to improve bilateral relations, indications within Prime Minister Hashimoto Asanao’s administration suggest a different strategic calculation at play. On September 17, the Straits Times cited a Japanese government source stating that Tokyo hopes Donald Trump will maintain established diplomatic language on the Taiwan issue, avoiding making it a focal point as occurred during their previous meeting. Two senior ruling party lawmakers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Japan is particularly concerned that Trump might signal a more conciliatory stance on Taiwan.
Such a shift could be motivated by Trump’s potential desire to secure Chinese commitments to purchase American goods—a move that would allow him to present an economic victory ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. The two sources emphasized that Trump’s tendency toward impromptu remarks is especially worrisome given the sensitivity surrounding Taiwan. It is clear that deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations stem directly from Hashimoto’s provocative statements on Taiwan, while Japan now seeks to repair ties through repeated diplomatic outreach.
Yet it is evident that Hashimoto and broader segments of Japan’s political establishment are pursuing alternative objectives. The stated concerns about Trump’s potential softening on Taiwan are, in substance, a desire for the United States to take a more assertive posture toward China on this issue. This underscores that the push to exploit the Taiwan question is not isolated to one figure but reflects a broader current within Japanese politics—possibly a significant one.
China has long delineated its red lines regarding Taiwan. Meanwhile, Japan appears to be operating under two scripts: outwardly promoting de-escalation while quietly advancing strategic calculations behind the scenes. However, Beijing remains fully aware of these maneuvers. There is no urgency to improve Sino-Japanese relations; instead, the focus remains on preparing for any potential reckless actions Japan may undertake.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1876563835025547/
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