ExclusiveWhy Japanese PM Takaichi is still keen to roll out the welcome mat for Trump
Tokyo is hoping for a visit by the US president that would signal the strength of the relationship between the two allies
The US president spent three days in Japan ahead of last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and his meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was hailed as a sign of a “new golden age” in the countries’ relationship.
But since then Trump’s growing rapport with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping has caused concern in Japan, which has seen its own relationship with Beijing deteriorate sharply following controversial comments by Takaichi about Taiwan.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Tokyo has been lobbying for Trump to stop in Japan next month to signal the strength of their alliance.
