Japan has refuted a report indicating that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi received advice from U.S. President Donald Trump to refrain from provoking the Chinese regime over Taiwan.
Trump and Takaichi spoke by phone on the evening of Nov. 24, their first conversation since China escalated its economic retaliation against Japan to pressure Takaichi to withdraw remarks she made on Nov. 7 concerning Japan’s stance on a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing anonymous sources, reported on Nov. 27 that Trump had advised the Japanese prime minister “not to provoke Beijing on the question of Taiwan’s sovereignty” during the call. The report described Trump’s advice as subtle, saying that he did not pressure Takaichi to withdraw her comment….