Japan seeks stronger U.S. support amid China threats

Japan has asked the United States to step up its public support for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following a series of threats from China over her recent comments about Taiwan, according to officials in both countries familiar with the discussions.

The Japanese government was reportedly disappointed by what it views as insufficient backing from senior U.S. officials after Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could present an “existential threat” that would justify deploying Japanese military forces. Beijing responded with sharp criticism, threats of economic retaliation, and public warnings to Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan.

In response, Shigeo Yamada, Japan’s ambassador to the U.S., directly requested stronger public expressions of support from the Trump administration. While Ambassador George Glass told reporters last month that Trump and his team “have her back,” Tokyo has reportedly seen few other statements matching the gravity of the situation.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi added urgency to the moment by revealing that Chinese J-15 fighters launched from the aircraft carrier Liaoning had recently locked radar on Japanese F-15s southeast of Okinawa. “This was a dangerous act that exceeds the scope necessary to ensure the safe flight of aircraft,” Koizumi said, calling the incident “extremely regrettable,” according to Japanese media reports.

Radar lock-on is a targeting process that typically precedes a missile launch. It involves using fire-control radar to track an aircraft’s distance and trajectory in real time, enabling weapons systems to guide missiles toward the target. Such actions are interpreted as hostile and raise the risk of confrontation.

The diplomatic dispute unfolds amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to avoid actions that could disrupt the trade agreement reached with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October. While U.S. officials privately reassured Tokyo that stronger messaging would follow, Japanese officials were reportedly disappointed when the response was limited to a social media post by a deputy State Department spokesperson.

“This was the clearest statement ever made by a Japanese prime minister about Japan’s obligations to the U.S. during a Taiwan contingency,” said Christopher Johnstone, a former senior White House Asia official now with The Asia Group. “Setting aside whether it was wise to make that statement publicly, it was one that Washington should have embraced. Instead … it has been met largely with silence.”

Randy Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, said it would have been “appropriate” for the White House to issue a strong statement defending Takaichi and condemning threats made against her.

One such threat came from China’s consul-general in Osaka, who suggested in a now-deleted post that Takaichi should be killed. The post read: “If a filthy neck sticks itself in uninvited, we will cut it off without a moment’s hesitation.”

Asked about the post during an interview on Fox News, Trump responded: “A lot of our allies aren’t our friend,” without offering any defense of Takaichi. Her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe—who maintained close ties with Trump—was assassinated in 2022.

Despite the silence, the White House has pointed to past remarks describing the relationship with Takaichi as “great.” The State Department has cited the deputy spokesperson’s social media post as evidence of ongoing support.

Some U.S. officials insist Washington’s commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance remains strong. But others, including Dennis Wilder, a former top Asia adviser in the George W. Bush White House, warned: “The absence of public statements of support for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi from both the White House and the Department of State is perplexing and must be unnerving for both Tokyo and Taipei.”