Takaichi looks to dispel alliance doubts after Trump-Xi summit

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. | AFP-JIJI

Sep 27, 2026

After a reassuring phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump following his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last week, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is looking to dispel any doubts about the strength of Tokyo’s alliance with Washington.

But while the call — the second interaction between Trump and Takaichi in less than a week — may ameliorate immediate concerns of Beijing driving a wedge between Washington and Tokyo, the summit has triggered what are likely to be lasting concerns for Japan. 

With bilateral ties deeply frayed following Takaichi’s comments last November in Parliament about the possibility of Japanese military intervention in a Taiwan crisis, China has rolled out an incessant and unyielding propaganda campaign against Tokyo.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.