Beyond the Optics: The 'China Message' in the Takaichi-Trump Summit

Weeks on, the Takaichi–Trump summit on March 19 is still being read in Washington as largely successful, with reactions proving, if anything, more favorable than expected.

Even among Democrats, who oppose much of the Trump administration's agenda, criticism has been notably scarce. That restraint likely reflects the party's long-standing commitment to the Japan-US alliance.

Above all, the meeting is seen as a clear win for both sides, breathing fresh momentum into the strengthening and expansion of bilateral ties with tangible gains.

Yet beneath the surface lies a less talked-about side of the story. The summit has quietly set off a chain reaction that, while indirect, is poised to deliver meaningful impact.

A Message to Beijing

It was Lewis Libby, a Republican-leaning international affairs expert, who captured this point most aptly. In his view, the summit's significance lies in its deterrent effect, signaling a coordinated Japan-US effort to push back against China's growing ambitions.

Libby has long helped shape Washington's thinking on Asia strategy and the management of Japan-US relations. His involvement dates back to his tenure as a senior official at the Department of Defense and later as a senior adviser during the administration of George W Bush.

In more recent years, he served as vice president of the Hudson Institute and now holds a position as a distinguished fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

*US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in Busan, South Korea, on October 30, 2025. (©AP=Kyodo)*

"From China's perspective, which has long sought to drive a wedge between the United States and Japan, the alignment to strengthen the alliance at the Trump–Takaichi summit represents a significant setback," Libby said. "It sends a clear deterrent signal against Beijing's future challenges to the democratic camp."

He added that the Trump administration's strikes on Venezuela and Iran were driven not only by the stated objective of neutralizing threats to the US, but also by a broader intent to push back against China.

Tokyo's Missed Opportunity

Both countries, which have openly positioned themselves in opposition to Washington, have deepened military, economic, and energy ties with Beijing in recent years.

Even Tokyo's relatively restrained support for actions targeting this so-called anti-US axis, he argued, is likely to carry tangible strategic costs for China.

During the Cold War, Libby played a key role as a senior State Department official in advancing the deployment of American F-16 fighter jets to Misawa Air Base in northern Japan, a move widely welcomed in Tokyo as a credible and effective deterrent against the Soviet Union.

*From 2001 to 2005, Libby served as chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney and has held other senior federal posts during his career. (©US DOD)*

The former defense official also maintained an exceptionally close relationship with the late Shinzo Abe and offered a measured critique of incumbent Sanae Takaichi's diplomacy.

"The one area where I would have liked to see more," he said, "is a clearer willingness to take concrete action in defense of the international waterway at the Strait of Hormuz, an area in which Japan has a vital interest."

This, he explained, "could take a form most acceptable to Japan, perhaps offering help on minesweeping, air defense of non-combatants, or logistics in aid of US, UAE, etc."

*A vessel transits near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11. Since the outbreak of the war, Iran has effectively and selectively blockaded the critical global chokepoint. (©Reuters/Kyodo)*

No Ambiguity in Washington

But to my eye, what proved most striking was the breadth of support in Washington for fortifying Japan-US coordination as a means of deterring China. The sentiment appears firmly entrenched on Capitol Hill.

In early March, just ahead of Takaichi's visit to Washington, I attended a Japan–US-focused reception on Capitol Building. There, I asked one of the guest lawmakers, Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC), what he expected from the Japanese prime minister.

He leaned forward and answered without hesitation: "First, I would like to convey the US side's 'thank you' to Prime Minister Takaichi."

"Her firm stance toward China directly supports US policy and advances our strategic interests," he said.

Wilson was, of course, well-versed in the sequence of events surrounding Takaichi's Diet remarks in November on a potential Taiwan contingency and the sharp backlash from Beijing that ensued.

A 13-term congressman and a senior Republican, he holds leadership roles on both the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees.

Widely regarded as close to President Trump, Wilson's hardline stance on Beijing offers a revealing window into the instincts shaping the administration's strategic outlook.

Author: Yoshihisa Komori, Associate Correspondent in Washington DC for The Sankei Shimbun