TOKYO – US President Donald Trump has reportedly advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi not to provoke China over Taiwan’s sovereignty, following a recent diplomatic spat between Tokyo and Beijing, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
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The row began after Takaichi stated that Japan could intervene militarily if Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by China, faced an attack. In response, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly emphasized the issue in a phone call with Trump, calling Taiwan’s “return” an “integral part of the post-war international order,” according to China’s foreign ministry.
Japan Shocked as Trump Warns Takaichi: Don’t Provoke China Over Taiwan
Turns out that after Xi Jinping warned Trump about Japan’s PM Takaichi openly poking the Taiwan issue, Trump picked up the phone again… but this time to tell Tokyo to cool it.
Yes, the U.S.… pic.twitter.com/61bgiRqFGR
— James Wood 武杰士 (@commiepommie) November 27, 2025
Shortly after, Trump arranged a call with Takaichi, advising her to avoid actions that could provoke Beijing. The WSJ reported that Trump’s advice was “subtle” and did not pressure the Japanese leader to retract her comments. Officials said the call focused on preventing friction over Taiwan from affecting broader US-China relations.
Beijing reacted angrily to Takaichi’s remarks, summoning Japan’s ambassador and issuing travel warnings for Chinese citizens visiting Japan. The Chinese embassy also cited reports of a surge in crimes against Chinese nationals. Japan’s foreign ministry dismissed these claims, citing official figures that showed a 50% drop in murders from January to October compared with the same period in 2024.
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Takaichi said the conversation with Trump also covered bilateral relations and his discussion with Xi. She quoted Trump as saying they were “very close friends” and that she could call him anytime. Japanese officials, however, reportedly found the message concerning, as Trump sought to prevent friction over Taiwan from jeopardizing a recent detente with Xi, which included a commitment to increase US agricultural purchases.