US Treasury Secretary: Japan PM Made No Specific Demands Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo and stated that Takaichi made no specific demands regarding President Trump's upcoming visit to China. They exchanged views on the importance of US-Japan relations and economic conditions.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 18:50
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TOKYO (CNA) – US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who will accompany President Trump on his upcoming visit to China, met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo today. He revealed that Takaichi made "no" specific demands regarding Trump's impending visit to Beijing.
According to NHK, Takaichi briefly met with Bessent (Scott Bessent) this afternoon at the Prime Minister's Office, accompanied by Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and other officials.
The two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including Trump's upcoming visit to China, US-Japan relations, critical minerals, and Japanese investment in the US based on the US-Japan agreement.
The report also noted that the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and trends in fiscal and financial markets were discussed. In addition, Bessent explained the recent situation of US-China relations.
After the meeting, Bessent told the media, "We talked about President Trump's visit to China and the importance of US-Japan relations. The partnership between the US and Japan is solid, and Prime Minister Takaichi's previous meeting with President Trump was a huge success. We will further advance the outcomes of the talks."
When asked if Takaichi had made any specific requests regarding Trump's upcoming visit to Beijing, Bessent replied, "No."
Furthermore, regarding Japan's previous market intervention to support the yen's value, Bessent stated, "Both the US and Japan agree that excessive volatility is undesirable. We have maintained close cooperation with Japan's Ministry of Finance, and we will continue to coordinate closely in the future," expressing understanding.
He also pointed out, "I am confident that the fundamentals of the Japanese economy are sound and resilient, and this should be reflected in the exchange rate movements."
Bessent and Katayama had already held a US-Japan finance ministers' meeting this morning, exchanging views on recent market trends and other issues. Katayama stated after the meeting that the US side had fully understood the cooperation between the US and Japan.
When asked if the Bank of Japan's monetary policy was discussed during the meeting, Katayama replied, "No comment." (Compiled by: Yang Wei-ching) 1150512
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According to NHK, Takaichi briefly met with Bessent (Scott Bessent) this afternoon at the Prime Minister's Office, accompanied by Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and other officials.
The two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including Trump's upcoming visit to China, US-Japan relations, critical minerals, and Japanese investment in the US based on the US-Japan agreement.
The report also noted that the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and trends in fiscal and financial markets were discussed. In addition, Bessent explained the recent situation of US-China relations.
After the meeting, Bessent told the media, "We talked about President Trump's visit to China and the importance of US-Japan relations. The partnership between the US and Japan is solid, and Prime Minister Takaichi's previous meeting with President Trump was a huge success. We will further advance the outcomes of the talks."
When asked if Takaichi had made any specific requests regarding Trump's upcoming visit to Beijing, Bessent replied, "No."
Furthermore, regarding Japan's previous market intervention to support the yen's value, Bessent stated, "Both the US and Japan agree that excessive volatility is undesirable. We have maintained close cooperation with Japan's Ministry of Finance, and we will continue to coordinate closely in the future," expressing understanding.
He also pointed out, "I am confident that the fundamentals of the Japanese economy are sound and resilient, and this should be reflected in the exchange rate movements."
Bessent and Katayama had already held a US-Japan finance ministers' meeting this morning, exchanging views on recent market trends and other issues. Katayama stated after the meeting that the US side had fully understood the cooperation between the US and Japan.
When asked if the Bank of Japan's monetary policy was discussed during the meeting, Katayama replied, "No comment." (Compiled by: Yang Wei-ching) 1150512
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.