Ahead of U.S.-China Summit, Sanae Takaichi Meets U.S. Treasury Secretary, Reaffirming Stance on Taiwan
Ahead of the U.S.-China summit, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to reaffirm Japan's position on the Taiwan issue. The U.S. Treasury Secretary is understood to recognize Taiwan's importance in the semiconductor supply chain, and the strong partnership between Japan and the U.S. was emphasized.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 18:53
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Dai Ya-zhen, Tokyo, 12th) U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, currently visiting Japan, met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Prime Minister's Official Residence for about 20 minutes earlier today. With the U.S.-China leaders' summit scheduled for the 14th, Japan is closely monitoring the direction of U.S.-China interactions and used this meeting to once again convey its stance on the Taiwan issue to the U.S. side.
Ahead of the U.S.-China summit, the Japanese government is actively communicating with key figures in the U.S. Trump administration, hoping to grasp the developments of the U.S.-China talks.
Nippon TV reported that Bessent is not just an economic cabinet member but is also deeply trusted by Trump, considered one of the few cabinet members who can directly advise Trump. For Takaichi, this was an opportunity to once again convey Japan's position to the U.S. side before the U.S.-China leaders' summit.
The meeting began at 4 PM (3 PM Taipei time) and lasted about 20 minutes. After the meeting, Bessent stated that both sides also discussed "issues related to President Trump's visit to China" and emphasized that "the Japan-U.S. partnership is very solid."
Japanese government officials stated that "Bessent is not just a simple economic cabinet member, but also a cabinet member responsible for U.S.-China affairs." Trump stated earlier today that arms sales to Taiwan would be one of the discussion items at the U.S.-China leaders' summit. It is believed that Takaichi once again conveyed Japan's position to the U.S. side, hoping that Trump would not make concessions to China on the Taiwan issue in exchange for commercial gains.
Sources close to the Prime Minister revealed that Bessent deeply understands Taiwan's importance in the global semiconductor supply chain, especially the strategic position of TSMC, and is also clear about Taiwan's critical strategic position in Japan-U.S. relations.
Bessent arrived in Japan yesterday, his second visit since October 2025. Last night, he attended a dinner hosted by Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama; this morning, the two sides met at the Ministry of Finance for about 35 minutes, exchanging views on issues such as the impact of the Middle East situation on financial markets.
In addition, before the U.S.-China leaders' summit, the two sides also exchanged views on China's restrictions on the export of rare earths and other important minerals.
Katayama said after the meeting: "Both sides discussed how to specifically strengthen the supply chain of important minerals. Although no formal agreement has been reached yet, the target direction is almost consistent. Especially China's measures against Japan, objectively speaking, are very malicious and unfair, and the U.S. side also stated that it will continue to assert its claims to China." (Edited by Tang Sheng-yang) 1150512
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(Central News Agency reporter Dai Ya-zhen, Tokyo, 12th) U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, currently visiting Japan, met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Prime Minister's Official Residence for about 20 minutes earlier today. With the U.S.-China leaders' summit scheduled for the 14th, Japan is closely monitoring the direction of U.S.-China interactions and used this meeting to once again convey its stance on the Taiwan issue to the U.S. side.
Ahead of the U.S.-China summit, the Japanese government is actively communicating with key figures in the U.S. Trump administration, hoping to grasp the developments of the U.S.-China talks.
Nippon TV reported that Bessent is not just an economic cabinet member but is also deeply trusted by Trump, considered one of the few cabinet members who can directly advise Trump. For Takaichi, this was an opportunity to once again convey Japan's position to the U.S. side before the U.S.-China leaders' summit.
The meeting began at 4 PM (3 PM Taipei time) and lasted about 20 minutes. After the meeting, Bessent stated that both sides also discussed "issues related to President Trump's visit to China" and emphasized that "the Japan-U.S. partnership is very solid."
Japanese government officials stated that "Bessent is not just a simple economic cabinet member, but also a cabinet member responsible for U.S.-China affairs." Trump stated earlier today that arms sales to Taiwan would be one of the discussion items at the U.S.-China leaders' summit. It is believed that Takaichi once again conveyed Japan's position to the U.S. side, hoping that Trump would not make concessions to China on the Taiwan issue in exchange for commercial gains.
Sources close to the Prime Minister revealed that Bessent deeply understands Taiwan's importance in the global semiconductor supply chain, especially the strategic position of TSMC, and is also clear about Taiwan's critical strategic position in Japan-U.S. relations.
Bessent arrived in Japan yesterday, his second visit since October 2025. Last night, he attended a dinner hosted by Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama; this morning, the two sides met at the Ministry of Finance for about 35 minutes, exchanging views on issues such as the impact of the Middle East situation on financial markets.
In addition, before the U.S.-China leaders' summit, the two sides also exchanged views on China's restrictions on the export of rare earths and other important minerals.
Katayama said after the meeting: "Both sides discussed how to specifically strengthen the supply chain of important minerals. Although no formal agreement has been reached yet, the target direction is almost consistent. Especially China's measures against Japan, objectively speaking, are very malicious and unfair, and the U.S. side also stated that it will continue to assert its claims to China." (Edited by Tang Sheng-yang) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.