President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and referred to the U.S. and China as 'allies during World War II,' praising the efforts of American volunteer groups that fought against the Japanese military. During a banquet, Xi directly mentioned 'Japanese militarism.' Japanese media expressed concerns that Trump's comments could lend support to China's anti-Japanese narrative, which has criticized Japan as a 'new form of militarism.' This statement came just two days after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi conveyed concerns about China to Trump.
On September 24, during a welcoming ceremony for Xi at the White House, Trump stated, 'As we pursue our common interests, our two nations have grown closer despite many differences, and we were allies during World War II.' He also highlighted the contributions of the American volunteer group, the 'Flying Tigers,' who fought against the Japanese military.
Trump added, 'Just as we joined forces to win the war, Xi and I will continue to cooperate moving forward.' Xi responded, 'During World War II, China and the U.S. stood shoulder to shoulder against the invasion of fascism.' However, it is important to note that the U.S. ally at that time was the Republic of China led by Chiang Kai-shek, not the People's Republic of China under Xi.
During the subsequent banquet, Xi specifically mentioned Japan. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on September 25, he said, 'Over 80 years ago, the people of China and the U.S. fought shoulder to shoulder against the Japanese militarist invaders.' He emphasized the friendship between the two nations, noting that despite the sacrifices of hundreds of thousands during the anti-Japanese war, Chinese soldiers and civilians rescued hundreds of American pilots.
China has criticized Japan as a 'new form of militarism' following Takaichi's remarks in the Japanese Diet regarding Taiwan. The Yomiuri pointed out that Trump's statement about the U.S. and China winning the war together could support China's anti-Japanese claims.
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), during a phone call with Trump last November, Xi stated, 'Now is the time to jointly uphold the achievements of World War II.' The Nikkei analyzed that Trump's recent remarks could be seen as a response to Xi's previous requests. Takaichi had directly conveyed Japan's concerns about China to Trump during the U.S.-Japan summit on September 22.
This is not the first time a U.S. president has referred to China as an ally during World War II. The Nikkei noted that former President Bill Clinton mentioned the alliance during a dinner with then-President Jiang Zemin in 1998. Trump also used similar language in May during a banquet in Beijing, citing former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This time, however, Trump emphasized the alliance in his own words without quoting others. The Nikkei speculated that with the midterm elections approaching, Trump may have offered a 'verbal return' on historical matters as part of a deal to encourage China to increase purchases of U.S. products.
The Taiwan issue remains a contentious point regarding how far the U.S. will accommodate China's demands. According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi expressed hope that the U.S. would maintain its correct stance against 'Taiwan independence' and handle the Taiwan issue with caution during the meeting. The Asahi Shimbun noted that China may have requested stronger language than the U.S. has previously used, which stated it does not support 'Taiwan independence.' Trump's response to this request has not been disclosed, and he only described the meeting as 'excellent' when asked by reporters if Taiwan was discussed.
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are also a point of contention. The Nikkei reported that Trump views arms sales to Taiwan as a 'good bargaining chip' in negotiations with China and has delayed their implementation. Xi is believed to have reiterated his demand to withhold arms sales during this meeting, according to the Nikkei's analysis.
Ahead of the meeting, the Asahi Shimbun reported that the Japanese government hopes for stability in U.S.-China relations but wants to avoid being sidelined by the close ties between the two nations. The Japanese government believes that continued U.S. involvement in Taiwan's security is essential for stability in East Asia, indicating that it is working hard to ensure U.S. engagement remains strong.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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