Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration wants to hold bilateral talks with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings next week, according to Kyodo News via Anadolu Ajansı.
Japan seeks an early meeting with Trump to coordinate China and Russia policy ahead of regional summits in Manila and Shenzhen.
Tokyo aims to convey its official position on China and Russia before a potential trilateral meeting involving Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Diplomatic Shifts
The diplomatic push comes as the ASEAN summit and related gatherings are scheduled for November 15-18 in Manila. Trump is expected to attend an ASEAN-US meeting on November 17. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit will follow on November 18-19 in Shenzhen, southern China.
Tokyo worries that Washington could quickly improve relations with Beijing and Moscow. The Republican Party’s defeat in the November US midterm elections has fueled speculation that Trump might focus on quick diplomatic wins. Japan wants to use the proposed bilateral talks to show the strength of the US-Japan alliance.
Japan Seeks Regional Cooperation Through the Quad
Japan is also looking to strengthen regional cooperation through the Quad, which includes Japan, the US, Australia, and India.
When asked about a possible Quad meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, a Foreign Ministry official declined to comment on specific arrangements. However, foreign ministers from the four nations met in May, July, and October.
“This demonstrates our steady cooperation among the nations, and the core objective of Quad is to deliver practical and tangible benefits to the region to sustain peace, stability and prosperity by reinforcing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said the official.
Beyond security, Tokyo is seeking to deepen ties with ASEAN in disaster management. Japan launched its National Disaster Management Agency on November 2 to handle major calamities, including a potential megaquake along its Pacific coast or an eruption of Mount Fuji. The agency employs more than 350 staff to oversee preparedness, emergency response, and reconstruction.
Unresolved Trilateral Plans
Arrangements for the proposed trilateral meeting between Trump, Xi, and Putin have not been finalized. China has acknowledged discussions about the gathering, while Moscow has expressed interest in bringing the three leaders together.