(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump reportedly urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday to soften her statements regarding Taiwan, following a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to officials cited by reports. The sequence of calls has sparked concern in Tokyo about whether Washington may prioritize trade stability with Beijing over regional security considerations.

During his nearly 30-minute call with Trump, Xi expressed anger over Takaichi’s recent remark that Japan might join a military response if China attacked Taiwan. Chinese officials emphasized that Taiwan’s “return to China” is a fundamental element of the post–World War II order and stressed that both Washington and Beijing share responsibility for global stability.

Later the same day, Trump spoke directly with Takaichi and advised her to avoid actions or statements that could escalate tensions with Beijing over Taiwan’s sovereignty. While he did not ask her to retract her comments, his request to “lower the volume” caused unease among Japanese officials, who interpreted it as a sign that Taiwan-related disputes could jeopardize a recently established US-China trade agreement.

The trade deal includes China’s commitment to increase purchases of American agricultural products, a politically sensitive topic for Trump, who has repeatedly touted such purchases as a victory for US farmers. In a statement, Trump emphasized the value of US-China relations and their benefits for Japan and American agriculture, saying, “The United States’ relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally. Anything good for our farmers is good for me."

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