Japan Rushing to Build Ties with Trump

Tokyo, Nov. 6 (Jiji Press)--After Republican candidate Donald Trump declared his victory in Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, the Japanese government is rushing to build a relationship of trust between him and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. 
 

Although Tokyo believes that the U.S. government will maintain its current policy of strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance, it is wary that Washington may make more demands to Japan on the security front.
 

Congratulating Trump on his return to power, Ishiba on Wednesday told reporters, "I hope to take the Japan-U.S. alliance to a higher level."
 

He added that he will "make efforts" to contact Trump as soon as possible, voicing his wish to hold a summit early.
 

Ishiba sent a congratulatory message to Trump expressing his desire to "work closely together" to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya sent a similar message to JD Vance, Trump's running mate.
 

Ishiba is set to attend a summit of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies to be held in Brazil from Nov. 18.
 

A Japanese government official said that Tokyo is hoping to arrange for Ishiba to stop at the United States on his way home to meet with Trump for first face-to-face talks.
 

As Trump has indicated he is not afraid of conflict with China, a senior official of Japan's Foreign Ministry said, "The significance of the Japan-U.S. alliance remains unchanged."
 

Trump, however, mentioned during his presidential campaign that he will ask U.S. allies to bear more defense-related burdens.
 

Japan may be asked to increase its share of costs for U.S. forces stationed in Japan and buy more U.S.-made defense-related equipment.
 

Ishiba was quoted as telling close aides that he expects "a tough time" even though he was bracing for Trump's victory.
 

Many within the Japanese government are concerned that unity among the Group of Seven major democracies may be disrupted if the United States cuts its support for Ukraine, which is battling Russia's invasion.
 

Ishiba's recent proposal for revising the Japan-U.S. status of forces agreement may become a new issue between the two nations.
 

Japan is also wary of protectionist moves by the United States as Trump pledged to levy additional 10-20 pct tariffs on all imports to the United States.
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