Japan Sounds Out US on Takaichi-Trump Talks in Manila, Seeking to Convey Tokyo's Position Before Shenzhen APEC
TOKYO — The Japanese government is sounding out the United States about a conversation between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of ASEAN-related summits in Manila, the Philippines, in mid-November, Kyodo News reported on November 12, citing several Japan-U.S. diplomatic sources. Takaichi wants to convey Japan's position on China and Russia to Trump before the APEC summit that follows in Shenzhen.
The timing is linked to anticipated leader-level interactions in Shenzhen, where a possible U.S.-China-Russia trilateral meeting has been mooted during APEC and a third bilateral meeting this year between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected. Tokyo therefore hopes to speak with Washington face to face beforehand.
A Quad leaders' meeting of the United States, Japan, India and Australia is also being arranged during the Philippines trip, and Takaichi is seeking talks with Trump around it. The ASEAN summit in Manila runs November 15-17 and the APEC leaders' meeting in Shenzhen November 18-19; Takaichi has already confirmed she will attend both.
As of publication, the U.S. side had not confirmed whether the Manila conversation will take place.
(Source: Kyodo News)
Related: China's Foreign Ministry: Xi Jinping To Chair APEC Leaders' Meeting In Shenzhen On Nov. 18-19
Source: Kyodo News
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：日本首相高市早苗官方肖像（日本内阁广报室，CC BY 4.0），经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Official portrait of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (Cabinet Public Affairs Office, Japan, CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.