Japanese newspapers reported this week that conservative Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government was seeking contact with former President Donald Trump in anticipation of his possible return to the White House.
Trump won a decisive victory in the Iowa primary caucuses this week, defeating his three opponents by the largest margin in the history of the Iowa Republican caucuses. One of the three, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, withdrew from the race and endorsed Trump, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley remained in the race. Ta. Although it is increasingly likely that Trump will be nominated to face incumbent President Joe Biden, recent polls show that Trump has enough support in key states to win the presidential election. has been done.
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During his first presidential term, from 2016 to 2020, President Trump made Japan a foreign policy priority. The first world leader to meet with the president after his 2016 election victory was the country's former prime minister, the late Shinzo Abe, who had developed a close friendship with the president. The current prime minister, Kishida, served as foreign minister in the Abe administration.
Donald Trump waves to reporters after signing a hat that reads “Donald and Shinzo, Making the Alliance Even Greater” at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, near Tokyo, on Sunday, November 5, 2017. The President (left) and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Frank Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)
Japanese leftist newspaper Asahi Shimbun report On Wednesday, Mr. Kishida suggested that he may have dispatched another former prime minister, Taro Aso, to establish contact with Mr. Trump's team during a recent visit to the United States. Mr. Aso currently serves as vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, led by Mr. Kishida and Mr. Abe, and is expected to have great influence even after his term as prime minister.
According to the report, Mr. Aso was in the United States from January 9th to 13th, “speaking at an event sponsored by a US think tank and meeting with US government officials.'' Asahi“However, sources say Mr. Aso also attempted to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on track to return to action.”
Aso was reportedly in New York at the same time as President Trump, but the two did not meet.Anonymous official said Asahi The Trump campaign also said it had “sent tentacles” to Aso to restore contact with the Japanese government.
Aso publicly denied that he had any plans to meet with President Trump during his stay in the United States.
Another Japanese newspaper is Yomiuri Shimbunreported the day before that Kishida believed that “Donald Trump is likely to win the Republican primary” and could potentially win the presidency. The paper also reported that Mr. Kishida “has high expectations for Mr. Taro Aso,” and that Mr. Kishida met with Mr. Aso on Monday immediately after returning to Japan and evaluated his stay in the United States. Yomiuri Unknown sources claimed that the two discussed the US presidential election.
Yomiuri He said Biden was an obstacle to Japan's attempts to contact Trump, saying, “The relationship with the Biden administration has made it difficult for Japanese government officials to have official contact with Trump's team.” “It's happening,” he said.
Based in Hong Kong South China Morning Post,Quote Asahi Shimbun's report, claimed The Japanese government claimed that President Trump was trying to exaggerate his “ego” out of fear that he might seek diplomacy with North Korea. As president, Trump met several times with North Korea's communist dictator Kim Jong Un, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of illegal nuclear missile tests and other belligerent actions from Pyongyang.
“President Trump forming any kind of alliance with North Korea is a nightmare scenario for Japan,” said Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor of politics and international relations at Waseda University. South China Morning Post.
The paper omitted that the Japanese government itself had attempted the same kind of diplomacy as it did during the Trump era. During Trump's term as president, Abe, who was then prime minister, reportedly sought a direct meeting with Kim, but that did not materialize. Current Prime Minister Kishida invited Kim to meet with him during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
“From the perspective of opening up a new era together, I would like to convey my determination to have direct talks with President Kim Jong Un at any time without conditions,'' Kishida said, “I would like to hold high-level talks.'' I will hold discussions under my direct supervision with the aim of holding a summit meeting as soon as possible.”
Abe served as prime minister for most of Trump's term, allowing the two countries to foster close ties. Prime Minister Abe became the first world leader to meet with President Trump in 2016, and in 2019 he gave a grand welcome to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in Japan. President Trump attended the sumo tournament held by the president of the United States as a guest of honor, along with Prime Minister Abe and his wife, Akie Abe. He awarded a trophy to the winner.
Prime Minister Abe resigned as prime minister in 2020, citing complications from ulcerative colitis. He remained an influential figure in Japanese politics until July 2022, when he was killed by an assassin with a homemade gun in broad daylight during a public event.
“This is absolutely devastating news that a truly great man and leader, former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, has been shot and is in extremely serious condition,” President Trump said in a statement at the time. “He was a true friend of mine and more importantly a friend of America. This is a huge blow to the wonderful people of Japan who loved and respected him so much. We all know that Shinzo Praying for him and his beautiful family!”
