Condemn unlawful maritime claims, militarization

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday (Manila time) condemned China for “provocative activities” in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

“The two leaders reaffirmed their strong opposition to the PRC’s unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea,” a joint statement said after Trump and Ishiba met in Washington, referring to China by the abbreviation of its official name.

The two leaders reaffirmed their position during a bilateral summit in Washington D.C.

“The two leaders shared views on the severe and complex security environment and expressed their determination to continuously cooperate to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the White House said in a statement.

The Philippines has condemned China’s increased presence in the West Philippine Sea, the area covering the country’s maritime zones in the South China Sea, and its recent deployment of coast guard vessels some 100 nautical miles off the Zambales province coastline.

Trump and Ishiba reaffirmed their willingness to advance their “multilayered and aligned cooperation” among like-minded countries, including through their trilateral setup with the Philippines/

They also called for a denuclearized North Korea, although Trump—who met its leader Kim Jong-un during his first term—said he wanted to have “relations” with Pyongyang.

Behind Trump’s expressions of support were Japan’s promises of a $1 trillion investment in the United States and to boost Japanese purchases of US defense equipment.

Ishiba said his country was the biggest investor in the United States and would step up its spending.

The soft-spoken, cigarette-smoking Ishiba had rushed to Washington hoping to blunt the edge of Trump’s “America First” policies, with Tokyo avoiding tariffs that the US president has slapped on other allies – for now.

Trump however pressed Ishiba to cut the US trade deficit with Japan to zero, and warned that Tokyo could still face tariffs on exported goods if it fails to do so.

Ishiba, an avowed “geek” and model warship fan, has been under pressure to replicate Trump’s close relationship with former premier and golf buddy Shinzo Abe.

Both leaders insisted they had struck up a rapport during what was only the second visit by a foreign leader of Trump’s new term.

“I was so excited to see such a celebrity on television in person,” Ishiba told their joint press conference — while saying he was not trying to “suck up.”

“On television he is frightening and has a very strong personality. But when I met with him, he was very sincere and very powerful.”

As they exchanged photographs, Trump praised the 68-year-old Japanese premier as “good looking” — typically one of the former reality TV star’s highest orders of praise.

And the US president laughed and said “that’s a very good answer” when Ishiba said he could not respond to a “theoretical question” about whether he would retaliate to any US tariffs.

Trump meanwhile said that Japan’s Nippon Steel will make a major investment in US Steel, but not take over the troubled company as previously negotiated.

Trump said “they’ll be looking at an investment rather than a purchase.” His predecessor Joe Biden had blocked the deal.

The two leaders also doubled down on decades-old US ties in security and trade — despite fears that Trump could turn on Tokyo as he has with other US allies.