Japan and China are once again at odds over Taiwan, and this time, the world is watching more closely than ever. The diplomatic storm erupted after Japan's newly elected Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, made a bold statement earlier this month, suggesting that Japan could respond militarily if China attempted to seize control of Taiwan. Her words, a sharp break from Japan’s traditionally cautious stance, have drawn swift and fierce reactions from Beijing, prompting a flurry of international phone calls and a wave of economic and political consequences.
On November 25, 2025, Takaichi revealed to reporters in Tokyo that she had received a call from U.S. President Donald Trump, notably right after his own conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. "President Trump told me that he and I are extremely good friends and that I should call him any time," Takaichi said, as quoted by Reuters. She added that Trump briefed her on his overnight discussion with Xi and the overall state of U.S.-China relations. The timing of these calls, and the order in which they occurred, underscores the high stakes and delicate balancing act facing all three nations.
The roots of the current dispute trace back to Takaichi’s unprecedented remarks before the Japanese parliament. She argued that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan—an island just 70 miles from Japanese territory—could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, potentially requiring a military response. According to NBC News, this was the first time a sitting Japanese prime minister had so explicitly suggested military involvement over Taiwan, shattering decades of strategic ambiguity shared by both Tokyo and Washington.
China’s reaction was immediate and severe. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared on November 23 that Takaichi had "crossed a red line" and warned that China would "resolutely respond" to any perceived provocations. In a series of retaliatory moves, Beijing canceled official meetings, suspended private exchanges, and advised its citizens against traveling to Japan. The Chinese government also began targeting Japanese exports such as seafood, films, and concerts, seeking to apply economic pressure and signal its displeasure on multiple fronts, as reported by The Associated Press.
On November 24, China further criticized Japan’s plan to deploy missiles on an island near Taiwan, accusing Tokyo of "creating regional tension and provoking military confrontation." That same day, Japan scrambled a fighter jet after spotting a Chinese drone flying between Taiwan and the Japanese island of Yonaguni, a move that only heightened anxieties in the region.
Despite Beijing’s demands, Takaichi has stood firm, refusing to retract her comments. Her government insists that Japan’s policy on Taiwan remains unchanged and continues to support a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan Strait issue. "We confirmed the close coordination between Japan and the United States," Takaichi said of her conversation with Trump, emphasizing that both leaders discussed strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
For its part, the United States has maintained its longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan. While the U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country, it is legally bound to provide the island with weapons for its defense. In November 2025, the U.S. announced two arms sales to Taiwan worth nearly $1 billion, including an advanced missile system and fighter jet parts. China has repeatedly objected to such sales, viewing them as interference in its internal affairs.
Interestingly, President Trump has avoided making any public statements about Taiwan during this latest round of tensions. According to NBC News, Trump’s ambassador to Japan, George Glass, affirmed that Tokyo could count on U.S. support in the face of Chinese “coercion.” However, Trump himself has kept his cards close to the vest, focusing his public remarks on the broader state of U.S.-China relations. In a social media post, Trump described his call with Xi as “very good” and said that “U.S.-China relations were extremely strong.” He also reaffirmed plans to visit Beijing in April 2026, with Xi expected to visit the U.S. later that year.
China’s official readout of the Trump-Xi call, published by Xinhua, placed heavy emphasis on Taiwan. Xi reportedly told Trump that the island’s “return to China” was a key part of the post-World War II international order. Yet, Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai responded defiantly, stating, “For the 23 million people of Taiwan, there is no option of returning to China. We must once again emphasize that the Republic of China is a fully sovereign and independent nation.”
The dispute has not remained confined to Asia. Beijing has taken its grievances to the United Nations, seeking to rally international opinion against what it calls Japan’s “erroneous” stance. Both sides have traded barbs in the international arena, each accusing the other of distorting the facts and inflaming tensions.
Meanwhile, analysts across the region have weighed in on the significance of the Trump-Xi and Trump-Takaichi calls. Zhu Feng, dean of the School of International Studies at Nanjing University, told NBC News that the Trump-Xi call was a “very good signal” that the strategic competition between the U.S. and China is under control, though he cautioned that “a dramatic breakthrough is hard to imagine.” Lev Nachman, a political science professor at National Taiwan University, observed that Trump’s silence on Taiwan “tells me that the U.S. has no desire to publicly make this about Taiwan more than it’s already become.”
Japan, for its part, has tried to deescalate the crisis, repeating its support for peaceful dialogue while resisting China’s demand for a public retraction. The U.S. continues to walk a tightrope, reaffirming its security commitments to Japan and Taiwan without openly provoking Beijing. China, meanwhile, is determined to demonstrate that it will not tolerate what it sees as challenges to its sovereignty and regional standing.
With economic, military, and diplomatic tensions running high, the world’s three largest economies are navigating one of the most complex and consequential disputes in recent memory. The outcome will likely shape not only the future of Taiwan, but also the broader balance of power in the Indo-Pacific for years to come.
