Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, visited the United States 18 days after Donald Trump took office, holding a summit and releasing a joint statement pledging to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region. This alliance aims to bring peace and prosperity to a world plagued by ongoing violence and unrest, as well as strive for a “new golden age” in Japan-US relations. The visit received positive reviews from both the political and public spheres in Japan.
Before Ishiba’s visit to the US, there were concerns within Japan’s public opinion and political circles about the outcomes. However, most were satisfied with the results achieved by the two leaders during the summit and were relieved to see the friendly and harmonious interaction between the two heads of state.
During the joint press conference held after the summit on February 7, Trump praised Ishiba, calling him “very determined” and expressing great respect, stating that he believes Ishiba will become a great prime minister. Ishiba, in turn, expressed his gratitude at meeting Trump in person after watching him on TV for years, stating that while Trump may have come across as intimidating on television, meeting him in person revealed a genuinely honest and powerful individual with a strong sense of mission towards the US and the world.
When asked by American journalists about potential retaliatory measures against Japan regarding additional tariffs imposed by the US, Ishiba diplomatically replied that he couldn’t answer hypothetical questions. Trump promptly responded, “That’s a very good answer,” eliciting laughter from those present. Ishiba’s candid remarks about Trump’s strong and intimidating personality also drew laughter from the audience.
Hiroshi Yamada, a member of the Japanese House of Councillors from the Liberal Democratic Party, expressed relief upon witnessing the summit meeting, stating that Ishiba had furthered relations with Trump based on the foundation laid by Shinzo Abe, which would benefit Japan-US relations.
Yamada revealed that there were initially harsh views towards Ishiba from Trump and his inner circle. However, witnessing how Ishiba performed during the summit meeting on television, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Professor Ding Shufan from the Taiwan National Defense Security Research Institute stated that many had been concerned that Trump’s presidency might negatively impact US relations with traditional allies. Ishiba’s visit to the US helped dispel some of those negative perceptions about Trump.
He emphasized that China had hoped for a weakening of US relations with traditional allies like South Korea and Japan under Trump’s administration, but this had not materialized. This outcome not only disappointed Beijing but may disrupt some of its strategic plans.
Japanese media speculated that Ishiba’s prompt visit to the US post-Trump’s inauguration was aimed at sending a message to countries asserting growing hegemonic behaviors, especially China, that any delay might indicate a waning deterrence position based on the Japan-US alliance.
After the US-Japan summit, accompanying Japanese government officials stated that the visit to the US was a full success. The joint statement explicitly opposed China’s attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea, particularly concerning the Senkaku Islands, confirming a commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation with allies and like-minded countries.
Trump had mentioned that he would visit China within the first 100 days of his presidency. Prior concerns within Japan’s diplomatic circles about Trump’s policies possibly leaning towards China were alleviated after Ishiba’s early meeting with Trump and the joint statement expressing a united front towards China.
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials mentioned that the US government’s busy schedule notwithstanding, they held the US-Japan summit just 18 days after Trump took office, earlier than any previous Japanese government.
The Nikkei newspaper highlighted Trump’s recognition of Japan’s value and pointed out that the future focus would be on China. Trump’s decision to meet Ishiba as the second foreign leader at the White House after taking office signaled a prioritizing of Japan’s strategic value to counter the significant threat posed by China.
The article further quoted experts’ views, suggesting that concerns regarding the Japan-US security arrangements had been alleviated, which was seen as a positive development.
NHK also positively evaluated the US-Japan summit, stating that the Japanese government had achieved certain outcomes. Despite it being the first meeting between the two leaders, a closer bond was established as Japan intended to strengthen cooperation with the US across various realms following the new “golden age” policy.
Hiroshi Moriyama, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, stated that the recognition of broader cooperation in various sectors by both the US and Japan was crucial for world peace and stability. Tetsuo Saito, the representative of the Komeito Party, highlighted progress in Japan’s acquisition of a US steel company as a significant and wise decision.
Some members within the Liberal Democratic Party described the summit as a pleasant surprise with no unexpected incidents, suggesting that the diplomatic activities would bode well for future Upper House elections.
Yoshihiko Noda, the representative for the Democratic Party for the People, stated that Japan-US relations were the cornerstone of diplomacy and security, and the visit had achieved certain results. Opposition party leaders also positively assessed the reinforced deterrence and response capabilities of the US and Japan against potential threats, highlighting the significant role the two nations played in constructing the international order.
The joint statement released after the US-Japan summit explicitly affirmed the commitment of both countries to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and sought to usher in a “new golden age” in Japan-US relations. The statement strongly opposed China’s attempts to alter the status quo in the East China Sea by force, in addition to condemning its threats and provocations in the South China Sea.
The statement emphasized the application of Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty to the Senkaku Islands, rejecting any actions aimed at disrupting Japan’s administration of the islands. The US emphasized its unwavering commitment to Japan’s defense, including the use of all capabilities, including nuclear, in defense collaboration. Furthermore, the statement mentioned advancing multilayered and coordinated cooperation among Japan, the US, Australia, and India, as well as Japan, the US, and South Korea. The US welcomed Japan’s intent to thoroughly strengthen defense capabilities beyond the fiscal year 2027 and mentioned convening a 2+2 security consultative meeting soon with the presence of foreign and defense ministers.
Regarding bilateral defense cooperation between the US and Japan, the joint statement indicated that leaders from both countries would enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of the US-Japan alliance by improving the command and control frameworks of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the US military, among other security defense cooperations.
The US and Japan pledged to establish a robust partnership in civilian space, aviation, science, and human exploration; the two nations also planned to expand their bilateral cooperation in the cyberspace domain, including AI and secure cloud services, as well as deepen information sharing.
Ding Shufan pointed out that the areas for future cooperation between Japan and the US were broad, spanning from industrial collaboration, joint development of new technologies, US naval shipbuilding, AI, and quantum technologies. These collaborations might gradually integrate into the AUKUS partnership involving the US, UK, and Australia, thereby adding novel contents to the “golden age” of US-Japan relations.
Su Ziyun, Director of the Taiwan Institute for Defense and Security Strategy and Resources, noted that the rise of the Chinese navy posed a significant threat to regional peace and emphasized that Trump might prioritize Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan in containing Chinese expansion beyond the first island chain. Amid mutual economic and military interests, the “new golden age” of US-Japan relations was deemed reasonably foreseeable.
He added that Ishiba’s policy towards China gradually became clearer through the joint statement, indicating a firm stance to ensure stability and security in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and even the South China Sea.
The joint statement also explicitly outlined the position of both countries on the Taiwan Strait. It stressed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as a critical factor for international security and prosperity. Both leaders urged for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion. They also expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.
Japanese media observed that during the summit, both leaders criticized China’s aggressive actions and proposed specific policies to counter China through enhanced US-Japan alliance and multilateral cooperation. Previous reports claiming Trump’s lack of concern for defending Taiwan were dispelled by this joint statement, much to the relief of Japan’s diplomatic community, as it signaled a continuation of established US-Japan foreign policies and avoided major policy shifts.
Su Ziyun highlighted that Ishiba became the first foreign leader to reiterate the Taiwan Strait stance to Trump, symbolizing Trump’s recognition of Taiwan’s security as a primary focus in his Taiwan policy. The joint statement constituted the first positive signal towards Taiwanese security under Trump.
Ding Shufan believed that China had some expectations for Ishiba initially, which might have now turned into disappointments. Japan is likely to play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific region, potentially strengthening relations with Southeast Asia, and increasing military and security cooperation between the US and Japan. This development could disrupt some of China’s plans.