Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Japan on Monday morning, marking the second leg of his high-profile Asian tour that began in Malaysia. The visit precedes his much-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping talks expected to play a crucial role in defusing ongoing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump received a warm welcome in Tokyo, where he became the first foreign leader to be hosted by Emperor Naruhito since the emperor ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019. The symbolic meeting is scheduled for Monday evening at the Akasaka Palace, followed by official discussions on Tuesday with Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Heightened Security in Tokyo
Ahead of Trump’s arrival, Tokyo was placed under tight security, with thousands of police officers deployed across the capital. The measures came after the arrest of a knife-wielding man outside the U.S. embassy on Friday and amid plans for anti-Trump protests in the Shinjuku district.
Trump, known for his personal ties with the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, spoke positively about Takaichi one of Abe’s political protégés saying, “I think she’s going to be great.”
Economic and Defense Commitments
The Japanese premier is expected to emphasize her government’s willingness to expand economic cooperation with Washington. According to Japanese officials, Tokyo plans to announce purchases of American trucks, soybeans, and liquefied natural gas during the summit. The gesture comes after Japan pledged a $550 billion investment package in exchange for reduced U.S. tariffs on Japanese goods.
Security will also be a central topic. Japan hosts the largest concentration of U.S. military forces in the world, but Trump has often criticized Tokyo for what he calls “insufficient spending” on its own defense, particularly in deterring China’s growing regional influence.
Prime Minister Takaichi, who has vowed to boost defense spending to 2% of Japan’s GDP the highest level since World War II, faces political obstacles in parliament, where her ruling coalition lacks an outright majority. Analysts suggest she will likely struggle to meet any further increases demanded by Trump.
Trade Meetings and Diplomatic Engagements
During the visit, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Japanese Trade Minister Ryūsei Akazawa, architects of the July tariff agreement are set to hold a working lunch to finalize follow-up measures. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Beisent is also scheduled to meet Japan’s new finance minister, Satsuki Katayama, for the first time.
Trump is expected to depart Tokyo on Wednesday for Gyeongju, South Korea, where he will meet President Lee Jae-myung. The two leaders will then travel to Busan for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, where Trump and Xi are set to hold their long-awaited bilateral meeting.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Japan, Trump praised Xi as “a very capable leader” and expressed optimism about reaching “a significant agreement” on trade. The summit, scheduled for Thursday, comes amid mutual tariff hikes and disputes over technology and rare-earth minerals. Officials from both sides have hinted at limited progress and a desire to manage differences rather than escalate them.
China Calls for End to Trade Wars
Coinciding with Trump’s arrival in Tokyo, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for an end to “politicizing economic and trade issues,” urging countries to return to a rules-based multilateral system. “The repeated withdrawals from agreements and the formation of exclusive blocs have created unprecedented challenges to multilateralism,” Wang said. “History cannot be reversed the world is already moving toward a truly multipolar order.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury officials confirmed that Trump and Xi are expected to approve a preliminary deal covering rare-earth minerals and Chinese imports of American soybeans, signaling cautious progress in a relationship that has oscillated between rivalry and strategic competition.
Rising Tensions Over Taiwan
Even as economic talks advance, military tensions in East Asia continue to rise. Chinese state media reported that the People’s Liberation Army had dispatched H-6K strategic bombers and J-10 fighter jets near Taiwan for “combat readiness exercises.” Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed four flights but said none breached its airspace, describing the move as “psychological warfare.”
China has intensified military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan in recent years, while the U.S. maintains unofficial ties and continues to supply weapons to Taipei, keeping strategic ambiguity about whether it would intervene in the event of a Chinese attack.
Possible Meeting with Kim Jong Un
In a surprising remark during his flight to Tokyo, Trump said he was “open to extending” his trip to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, despite no official arrangements being announced. The former president’s statement sparked speculation about an impromptu encounter similar to his 2019 meeting with Kim at the Demilitarized Zone, which was arranged within 48 hours of a tweet invitation.
Malaysia: The First Stop
Trump’s Asian tour began Sunday in Malaysia, where he presided over the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. He hailed the deal as “a big step forward,” adding that Washington also concluded “a major trade agreement with Cambodia and an important accord on rare-earth minerals with Thailand.”
As Trump moves through Asia, the region watches closely for signs of renewed U.S. engagement, particularly as Washington seeks to reassert its economic influence in a region increasingly defined by China’s expanding power.
