Xi Criticizes Japan in U.S.-China Talks Over Takaichi

2026-05-25

Xi shares criticism of Japan with Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping singled out Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for criticism during his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on Nov. 14-15, Japanese and U.S. diplomatic sources said. Trump, in response, defended Takaichi as 'wonderful,' they said.

Trump called Takaichi after the meeting and relayed the exchange. Neither the U.S. nor Chinese governments has disclosed details of the talks involving Japan.

Taiwan and rearmament in focus

The Financial Times reported on the 24th that Xi argued for Japan's 'rearmament' at the meeting and became heated, raising his voice. Xi's criticism of Japan was the most tense moment in the two-day talks, the paper said.

According to the paper, after Xi criticized Takaichi and Japan's higher defense spending, Trump replied that Japan needed to strengthen its defense capabilities because the North Korean threat was growing. It was not clear whether he cited China as a security threat to Japan.

Xi also warned, 'The Taiwan issue is the most important in China-U.S. relations. If this is handled properly, the overall relationship between the two countries can remain stable.' China has reacted strongly to Takaichi's remarks in the Diet in November 2025 over a possible Taiwan contingency, and Japan-China relations have cooled.

Trump said in March, during a meeting with Takaichi at the White House, that he planned to 'praise Japan' when he met Xi.

In a joint statement signed after their meeting on the 20th, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin said, 'Japan's rapid rearmament course poses a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.' The statement referred in part to Japan's scrapping of the 'five categories' that regulate exports of lethal defense equipment.

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