US President Donald Trump intervened in rising tensions between Japan and China after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo could respond militarily if China attacked Taiwan. The comments angered Beijing, which summoned Japan's ambassador and warned its citizens against travel, while also postponing the release of Japanese films. Trump first spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who stressed Taiwan's role in the postwar international order, then called Takaichi to advise caution without demanding a retraction. The sequence highlighted the delicate balance between US-China trade relations and Japan's security alliances. Trump praised Takaichi's leadership while seeking to maintain economic agreements and global stability. Taiwan remains a sensitive flashpoint.
