Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly working to organize a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump following comments made during President Xi Jinping’s recent state visit to Washington. During the visit—the first of its kind in over a decade—both Trump and Xi referenced the historical alliance between the United States and China during World War II, specifically noting their shared opposition to Japan during that conflict.

These remarks have reportedly caused significant concern within Tokyo, prompting the Japanese government to seek clarification or reassurance regarding the current state of U.S.-Japan relations. While the U.S.-China summit was intended to address contemporary diplomatic and economic issues, the focus on historical wartime cooperation has introduced a new layer of tension for Japanese officials. The SCMP reports that the invocation of this history has sent "shock waves" through the Japanese capital, as the country navigates its own complex security and economic ties with both Washington and Beijing. The situation highlights the sensitivity of historical narratives in modern international diplomacy, particularly as Japan assesses how these public statements might influence future U.S. policy toward the Indo-Pacific region.