FT: Xi Jinping raises voice in meeting with Trump over Japan’s rearmament

Chinese President Xi Jinping sharply criticised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a meeting with Donald Trump in Beijing, according to the Financial Times (FT), citing sources.

During the discussion on Japan, Xi raised his voice, speaking “vocal and agitated,” which surprised US officials, as the topic had not been part of prior preparatory talks between the sides.

Trump responded by stating that Tokyo should adopt a tougher security stance in light of the growing threat from North Korea, though it remains unclear whether he also referenced China in that context.

Christopher Johnstone, a former White House official on Japan, said Xi’s “caustic approach” toward Japan — and his attempt to leverage Trump’s desire for stable US-China relations — only reinforced Tokyo’s push to strengthen its own security capabilities.

“Xi’s lack of self-awareness is remarkable. His own actions are accelerating the emergence of a much stronger Japan,” said Johnstone.

China’s Foreign Ministry said on May 22 that Japan plans to increase its military spending by 9.7% in 2025, marking the 14th consecutive year of defence budget growth, with right-wing forces in the country continuing to push for further increases.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China — the world’s second-largest military spender — raised its defence budget by 7.4% last year to $336 billion, extending a 31-year streak of annual increases. Japan’s military spending, by comparison, stood at $62 billion.

Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have sharply deteriorated since November, when China reacted angrily to remarks by Sanae Takaichi, who warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose an “existential threat” to Japan and justify the deployment of its military. 

Although her comments did not signal a formal policy shift, they drew strong condemnation from Beijing.

By Jeyhun Aghazada