Japan PM touts Trump bond in first talks since China clash

“Call me anytime” was the message Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Sanae Takaichi said she received from US President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday in their first phone call since Tokyo’s leader sparked a major diplomatic bust-up with China.

- 

Ms. Takaichi’s off-the-cuff remark in parliament earlier this month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger Japanese military action prompted a furious response from Beijing that has included a boycott on travel to Japan.

China claims Taiwan, which sits just over 100 km (60 miles) from Japanese territory, and has not ruled out using force to take control of it. The island’s government rejects Beijing’s claim and says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.

Mr. Trump has not commented publicly on the dispute between Japan — a key US security ally — and rival superpower China, a silence that analysts say will be concerning to some officials in Tokyo.

In brief remarks following her call with Mr. Trump on Tuesday, Ms. Takaichi sought to dispel any concerns that the US president did not have her back.

“President Trump mentioned that he and I are extremely good friends, and that I should call him anytime,” Ms. Takaichi told reporters.

Mr. Trump explained to Ms. Takaichi the recent state of US-China relations including his phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, she added.