Trump Defends Japanese PM Takaichi After Xi's Criticism
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- Trump defended Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi after Xi Jinping criticized her at a Sino‑U.S. summit earlier this month.
- Trump said Takaichi is not the kind of leader who deserves criticism.
- Trump held a phone call with Takaichi hours after his two‑day China visit, during which they reaffirmed an “ironclad” bilateral alliance.
Why it matters: Trump's defense of Takaichi and the subsequent phone call reaffirmed an ironclad US‑Japan alliance, giving Japan firmer diplomatic backing amid Chinese criticism and showing U.S. willingness to support Tokyo's stance on Taiwan.
