Just as Japan's top trade negotiator traveled to Washington for another round of tariff talks last week, a bipartisan delegation bearing the name of “Japan-China Friendship” wrapped up a visit to Beijing.
A week earlier, the head of the junior party in Japan's ruling coalition was in Beijing delivering a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Details of the letter are unknown, but the two sides discussed U.S. tariffs in addition to bilateral issues.
Among all U.S. allies being wooed by Beijing in its tariff stare-down with Washington, Japan stands out.
It is a peculiar case not only for its staunch commitment to its alliance with the United States but also for its complicated and uneasy history with the neighboring Asian giant — particularly the war history from the 20th century that still casts a shadow over the politics of today.
“On one hand, they are neighbors and they are important economic partners. There’s a lot that connects Japan and China,” said Matthew Goodman, director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations. “But on the other hand, I think there are limits to how far they’re going to lean into China.”
While Japan won't walk away from its alliance with the United States, the linchpin of the Asian country's diplomacy and security policies, “it's also true that the tariffs and uncertainty that Trump has created for Japan is really shaking things up in Tokyo,” Goodman said.
Last month, President Donald Trump announced a 24% tariff on Japanese goods in a sweeping plan to levy duties on about 90 countries. The White House has since paused the tariffs but a 10% baseline duty on all countries except China, allowing time for negotiations. Still, Trump's 25% tax on aluminum, steel and auto exports have gone into effect for Japan.
The tariff moves, as well as Trump's “America First” agenda, have cast doubts among the Japanese if the United States is still a dependable ally, while China is rallying support from tariff-threatened countries — including Japan.
When Tetsuo Saito led Japan's Komeito Party delegation to Beijing in late April, China hinted at difficulty in its tariff dispute with the United States, signaling its willingness to improve ties with Tokyo. An unnamed senior Chinese official said his country was "in trouble” when discussing Trump's 145% tariff on Chinese products, according to Japanese reports.
Saito's visit was soon followed by that of the bipartisan delegation of Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union. Zhao Leji, Beijing's top legislator, told the delegation that China's National People's Congress would be “willing to carry out various forms of dialogue and exchanges."
Beijing did not lift a ban on Japan's seafood imports as the Japanese delegates hoped, but it signaled positive signs on its assessment of the safety of the discharges of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Beijing banned Japan's seafood products in 2023, citing those concerns.
Ties between Tokyo and Beijing have long been rocky. In the past several years, they squabbled not only over the seafood ban but also long-standing territorial disputes over the Senkaku, or Diaoyu, islands in the East China Sea, Beijing's growing military assertiveness and violence against Japanese nationals in China — an issue complicated by the nations' uneasy history.
Tokyo's closer ties with Washington during Joe Biden's presidency also upset Beijing, which saw it as part of the U.S. strategy to contain China and has lectured Tokyo to “face squarely and reflect on the history of aggression.”
An imperial power in Asia for centuries, China fell behind Japan in the 19th century when Japan began to embrace Western industrialization and grew into a formidable economic and military power. It invaded China in the 1930s and controlled the northeastern territory known as Manchuria. War atrocities, including the Nanking Massacre and the use of chemical and biological weapons and human medical experiments in Manchuria, have left deep scars in China. They have yet to be healed, though Japan's conservative politicians today still attempt to deny the aggression.
Ishiba, elected Japan's prime minister in October, has a more neutral view on his country's wartime history than the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his two successors. Weeks after taking office, Ishiba held talks with Xi on the sidelines of a leaders' summit.
Chinese scholars, however, see Tokyo's recent engagements with Beijing as a pragmatic move to hedge against U.S. protectionism and not a long-term strategy for stability with China.
The odds are low for Japan to move into China's orbit, Goodman said. “They have for a long time had to manage an important but challenging relationship with China," he said. “And that is, again, a long-standing problem for Japan, going back centuries or millennia.”
While Japan might welcome the friendlier tone from Beijing, it is trying to stabilize Japan-U.S. relations under Trump's “America First” agenda, and it is hoping to settle the tariff dispute without confronting Washington, with an eye on preventing Beijing from exploiting any fallout in Japan-U.S. relations.
Japan was among the first countries to hold tariff talks with Washington. During the first round in mid-April, Trump inserted himself into the discussions, a sign of the high stakes for the United States to reach a deal with Japan. The Trump administration reportedly pushed for Japan to buy more U.S.-made cars and open its market to U.S. beef, rice and potatoes.
After the second round of negotiation in Washington last week, Ryosei Akazawa, the country's chief tariff negotiator, said he pushed Japan's request that the U.S. drop tariffs and was continuing efforts toward an agreement acceptable to both sides. He said Japan's auto industry was already hurting from the 25% tariff and that he needed to be “thorough but fast.”
Asked about China, Akazawa said only that his country keeps watching the U.S.-China tariff development “with great interest." He noted Japan's deep trade ties with China.
While China and Japan are working to mend ties, the two are also competing in the Southeast Asia region, where Trump has threatened high tariffs as well. The region is deeply integrated into China's supply chain but under pressure from the West to diversify and reduce its reliance on China. With younger and growing populations as compared to East Asia, the region is considered an important growth center.
Japan, as a major postwar development aid contributor, has gradually regained trust in the region, which also was scarred by Japan's World War II past.
On Wednesday, Ishiba returned from Vietnam and the Philippines after agreeing with their leaders to further strengthen security and economic ties. During the visit, Ishiba stressed Japan’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening a multilateral free-trade system in each country. Ishiba also had telephone talks with his Malaysian and Singaporean counterparts earlier this month about U.S. tariffs.
Just weeks earlier, Xi was in Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, also stressing free trade and seeking stronger supply chains.
At a recent discussion at the Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute, Itsunori Onodera, Japan's governing party policy chief, warned of “very unstable” feelings among many Asian countries faced with high tariffs from the United States.
“There’s a danger they might become more distant and become closer to China,” Onodera said. “This is not something that Japan wants, either.”
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37 Comments
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deanzaZZR
Now would be a great time for a summit between Xi and Ishiba. It is long overdue.
Sh1mon M4sada
Japan should not be threatened by Trump period. The Trump administration ultimate goal is for fair trades between cooperative friends, like the days before China joined the WTO. Ever since China joined the WTO almost all of the G20 countries has been duped with cheap Chinese trinkets paid for with worker's standard of living. Globalisation has only been a winner for Wall St. Main Street everywhere are stagnating and going backward.
Japan, UK, Australia, New Zealand can claw back all of what's lost to China if Trump is successful. There is only hope on the horizon.
CanuckNikkei
About the tariffs: youtube, Decoding China: Fourth Plenum has some interesting info.
dbsaiya
You don't treat allies and business partners the way trump. is treating Japan. Ishiba had better learn not to put all his eggs in one basket and forget about the U.S. being an ally. Better meet with Xi and discuss how to counter MAGA.
151E
According to Snowden, the NSA put malware in place that could shut down Japan's power grid if it were ever deemed an unreliable partner. I wonder if this has anything to do with Japan's continued allegiance to the US.
quercetum
Trump’s administration has no plans for reducing tariffs with Japan.
The Japanese delegation did as they were told — they arrived to the White House to negotiate.
Apparently all they had was *please do not raise tariffs
*we invest a lot in the US.
*we hold US treasuries
So, there was and is no plan.
The Japanese delegation brought a gold plated Myaku Myaku amoeba statue as a gift for Trump.
He handed out MAGA hats.
BigP
“Japan-China Friendship” but following whose rules?
Japan just keeps getting its fingers burnt with these so called “closer ties”.
Japan is desperately making friends with China and making friends and alliances against China.
Must be confusing Ishiba to no end.
DeeZee
Trump has made it clear. He doesn't want all these Japanese cars on American roads. So where does that leave Japan? They have all these treasuries and import their oil in dollars which is why they have a trade deficit. They can't sustain any industry outside of tourism because of a rapidly declining population. I am not confident they can steer out of this mess.
stormcrow
Japan is between a rock and a hard place on this one. If the U.S. abandons Japan, then Japan will clearly be forced into a corner on what's best for number one. The biggest loser being the U.S. for throwing away all of those years of goodwill and trust which it has built up in Japan. For China, it's quite obviously a win on many, many levels.
elephant200
Don't pay ransom to thieves. Not a single word spoken by Trump is true, he is a con-man , isn't his criminal history spoken enough about him ?
Trump wants a fair trade? He wants everyone dies including the ordinary Americans. Only the tip of pyramid in the high society will survive his onslaught. Japan has been in stagnation since 1990s, thanks to an American friend and his economic war against Japan in 1980s. His name : Ronald Regan !
elephant200
There’s a danger they might become more distant and become closer to China“This is not something that Japan wants.
And what can Japan do ? Betraying all the Asian countries but appeasing all the ridiculous demands from Donald Trump !
OssanAmerica
If China really wants to improve ties with Japan at this time they can retract their claim to the Senkaku Islands and stop sending ships and aircraft there. Bet it won't happen.
OKuniyoshi
Why the tightrope?? Just have a relationship with both of them like 90% of the world. Don't align yourself/don't serve the interest of one of them at the expense of the other one. Forget about the out dated mentality which prevailed during western colonization of the world, when western imperialism dominated. Look at the composition of G7, where you stand, out, in the group. When you change your mind set, the tight rope will naturally go away, on its own. The life of your people will get better.
Wasabi
Nothing good will happen with trump. Better find other ways until he is gone.
BB
Trump is never going to see the US-Japan trade gap narrow. There aren't enough Japanese consumers to compete with Americans, and they don't need most American products. So Tokyo shouldn't bother trying to bend over backwards to please the little emperor.
quercetum
It’s perfectly fine to have disputes and keep friendly ties and to improve them.
The delicate dramatic ones who aren’t in the field of diplomacy will allow one dispute to sever all ties. Seafood ban? Cut ties already.
Cephus
"Threatened by Trump tariffs, Japan walks delicate tightrope between U.S. and China.
Foreign and trade policies should be left to the experts who knows better. However when everyone becomes an expert that's just noise.
isabelle
China, on the one hand, calls for "cooperation" and, on the other, practices economic coercion, violates Japan's sovereign waters and airspace, commits cyber-attacks, steals IP, etc.
The country simply cannot be trusted, and this will remain the case at least until the CCP falls.
As I always say, Japan should take any easy wins on offer, but never, ever trust the CCP.
Wasabi
I agree with you but trump and friends are not diplomates and not experts.
isabelle
Spend taxpayers' money just to hear lies and empty promises from the CCP?
No, thanks.
It's not "perfectly fine" for China to violate clear world trade rules. See Article 5:
https://www.worldtradelaw.net/document.php?id=uragreements/spsagreement.pdf&mode=download
If China wants cooperation from its neighbors it has to behave itself, stop lying to and threatening others, and start playing by the rules it has willingly signed up to.
But it won't, so it will never be trusted.
Tokyo Guy
Delicate tightrope? Come on.
China's far from perfect, but if the alternative is dealing with a man child who changes his mind every day and operates basically from the perspective of revenge and/or personal enrichment, that's hardly an alternative at all.
Dango bong
stop relying on the US go trade with Canada
Wasabi
At least, China action are predictable -not like the USA- and working with them can be good on the long term.
balancer
maybe time to reduce or stop sinophobia from jpn side?
how abt to meet both japanese PM and chinese one?
and have some serious talk?
nishikat
I don't think so!
WoodyLee
Tight Rope to say the least, How about a NOOSE!!?
grc
Other countries are doing the same, sending representatives to both US and China. Seems sensible
Cephus
"I agree with you but trump and friends are not diplomates and not experts."
Running an efficient government requires experts and deplomats in every sector. Therefore, I'm confused by your claim
kohakuebisu
These talks are mostly a charade and the "tightrope" is melodramatic nonsense.
Japan simply has to agree to more talks. Trump is foolish for saying he will get "deals" done immediately, or 24 hours in the case of Ukraine, and newspapers and TV news are even more foolish for presenting this as realistic. It is not how the world works. I suspect we get this because "report what Trump said yesterday" is the cheapest way to fill columns in newspapers and websites with stuff people will click on.
Fos
Over the years, China has emerged as Asia key trading partners through training programs, infrastructure projects and other forms of cooperation, forging strong ties rooted in openness, pragmatism, and win-win collaboration. Asia needs shared prosperity and mutual respect, not a one-sided power play.
Unlike United States of America’s warmongering nature, Japan-China relationships should be based on Beijing principles of peaceful co-existence, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
TokyoLiving
The US is like a spoiled baby who has lost its pacifier..
It threatens any country that wants to get closer to China. As this strengthens China and the rest of the world, the US continues to decline..
The US only defends its own free self-determination, but never the self-determination of other countries..
It threatens, intervenes, and invades, all finely disguised as democracy, freedom, and goodwill..
Dango bong
Just tired of being everyone's welfare cash cow. If you want to sell to the #1 economy you have to give us something in return and stop blocking us.
deanzaZZR
True, how is that policy working out?
"Malaysia PM says ASEAN-China free-trade deal to be finalised soon"
By Reuters May 4, 20258:24 PM PDTUpdated 2 days ago
https://www.reuters.com/en/malaysia-pm-says-asean-china-free-trade-deal-be-finalised-soon-2025-05-05/
Peter14
A contradictory statement leaving out the obvious flaws in Chinese regional relationships where their burgeoning navy is used to intimidate and force others out of their own territory so that China can access the natural resources for themselves and establish man made island fortresses throughout the South China sea. China's continued and relentless warmongering is forcing an arms race in the Asia Pacific region that will last many years going forward.
On the contrary, China -Japan relations should be based firmly in Japans pacifist principals of non confrontational co-existence based on mutual respect and peace. Something China can learn from Japan.
Peter14
You should also mention China's recent threats to everyone about making deals with America at China's expense. They both act as bad as each other. Neither side has the moral high ground, although both would claim they do.
Fos
Gotta love the China haters :)
A brief recap of history books, as opposed to the usual US military transcripts
Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, who represent the great powers, only China has not fought a war in 40 years. In contrast to China, in the last three decades, America has fought a war or been involved in military actions every year.
In the course of the 20th century alone, Washington has participated in 39 armed conflicts, or one every three years, and since 2000 it has engaged in at least 12 wars, the equivalent of one every two years.
The anti-Beijing hysteria is clearly being led by the United States which is not concerned that China will attack other countries, but is worried that its world hegemony is being challenged
kurisupisu
Time for theJapanese to invest in countries in which they make large profits-only fair!