Donald Trump research course at PM Ishiba in Japan pays off during conversation

If Japan needs to be assured, then in the increasingly unstable Asia-Pacific region, the top allies and friends of the United States are still like this and then get some.

But what was surprisingly nothing happened at the Trump-Isaba meeting at the White House.

Unlike most of Trump’s domestic and global dynamics to date, this is neither controversial nor confrontational.

“On TV, he is very scary,” Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters after Friday’s meeting.

He added: “But when I met him he was very sincere, very strong and powerful in his will.”

There are many that are associated with Washington and Tokyo. Japan has been the top foreign investor in the United States for five consecutive years, creating thousands of jobs. Japan has 54,000 U.S. military personnel.

But President Donald Trump has given his friends and enemies to worry: From the tariff war against China, Canada and Mexico to his U.S. “Ownership” in Gaza’s proposal Sanctions against the International Criminal Court.

“Trump has made some unstable decisions about countries that claim to be friends with the United States,” said Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at the Kanda International Institute in Japan.

He added: “In Tokyo, people are worried that the same thing might happen: Trump could impose huge tariffs on Japan or initiate some controversy. But that didn’t happen.”

Although Trump did not rule out tariffs on Tokyo, this was not a major feature of the meeting.

Ishiba prepares Washington. He studied. Literally. He held a “study course” with staff and sought advice from his predecessor, Fumio Kishida.

He also got some help from the legacy of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had a close relationship with Trump on his first golf course.

Ishiba’s homework has been paid off.

There aren’t as many exciting moments as many other announcements from the President of the United States, except when Trump mistakenly called Nippon Steel “Nissan.”

Actually – in Japan – the meeting was reassuring.

Both leaders seem to have encountered plans for their own country to promote the “golden age” of trade and defense plans for Japan-U.S. relations.

Ishiba announced that as a rebalancing relationship between two major economic powers, his country plans to increase U.S. investment to $100 million (£80.6 billion).

Ishiba said Japanese automakers will increase investment, while Tokyo will expand U.S. imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are expected to be added.

This will be the music of Trump’s ears and the push for the “draft, baby, drill” in his inaugural speech.

The two also managed to find common ground on the controversial issue of Japanese steel.

Trump says Japan will “invest heavily” in Pennsylvania’s U.S. steel without a majority stake.

The Japanese company attempted to take over U.S. Steel had previously been blocked by President Joe Biden on the national security field.

There are enough boxes to make Japan breathable easily – but the main purpose of Ishiba’s visit is personal.

Japanese Prime Minister is in a harmful political position at home – His minority government remains weak after taking power The October election was humiliated when it lost its dominant majority.

Ishiba is desperate to win.

The man himself has no regard for how he will face the infamous ace.

Mr Hall said: “Over the weeks, local media have come up with the idea that he will not succeed diplomatically – he is clumsy, not a social person, if he can give Washington, Trump Will have lunch.”

However, Ishiba looks successful.

The former Japanese defense minister is a veteran politician known for his intensive speeches in parliament. Observers say such speeches manage to confuse some of his opponents and others.

But in the “Trump Strategy Meeting” with employees, the biggest advice he got was: “First of all, conclusion. Keep it simple.”

“Ishiba followed a playbook, personally flattered Trump and provided him with economic investment in the United States rather than facing him,” Mr Hall said.

Japan and the United States may not agree with several issues. Especially Trump’s US proposal to acquire Gaza Stripwhich has sparked fierce criticism worldwide.

Japan reiterated its long-term position in supporting the two-state solution.

“We will not change our position,” Foreign Secretary Takeshi Iwaya said last week.

Tokyo is watching Trump’s trade war with China nervous

But Hall said that if Japan can help Japan, Japan would not be attracted to the United States-China trade war.

Regarding China, Japan needs to achieve a good balance.

Beijing is Tokyo’s largest trading partner. China is one of the largest investment destinations for Japanese companies.

In terms of defense and diplomacy, both the United States and Japan are challenged by China’s decisive rise and confidence in the region and the world.

Especially with the Chinese military Now provocative actions are often carried out in the waters near Taiwan Beijing regards it as a traitor province.

In 2022, pacifist country Japan announced it would double its military spending in 2027, citing threats posed by China and North Korea and said it would gain the ability to strike enemy bases.

These changes mark the adoption of a pacifist constitution after the Second World War since the most enormous overhaul of Japan’s security strategy.

As North Korea continues its nuclear program, South Korea is in a political collapse and the ongoing U.S.-China competition, Japan has once again emerged as the least challenging, only unproblematic friend of the United States.

“Japan will avoid any conformation with Trump when possible. It’s likely to be a ‘is’ friend,” Hall said.