US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met at the White House on Friday, projecting unity in countering China’s growing economic and military influence. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, with Trump highlighting a nearly $1 billion arms sale to Japan, including the advanced Standard Missile-6 system.
Trump emphasized the US military’s superiority, stating, “We will have the strongest military by far, stronger than China, stronger than anybody.” Ishiba, in turn, confirmed that the US-Japan security treaty applies to the disputed Senkaku Islands, warning against unilateral actions in the East and South China Seas.
Both leaders reiterated their stance on Taiwan, supporting peace and stability in the region while acknowledging Washington’s security commitments. However, tensions remain over trade, with Trump leaving the door open for new tariffs on Japan. When asked if Tokyo would impose retaliatory tariffs, Ishiba declined to comment, prompting Trump to praise his response.
To address trade concerns, Japan committed to increasing energy imports from the US and investing $1 trillion in the American economy. Trump linked this move to reducing Tokyo’s dependence on China, calling Chinese economic policies “quite aggressive.”
While the meeting strengthened US-Japan ties, analysts warn that Japan’s concessions may not shield it from potential tariffs as Trump pushes to rebalance trade.
