TOKYO - Chinese President Xi Jinping condemned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the two-day summit earlier this month with U.S. President Donald Trump, criticizing her push to boost Japan's defense capabilities as neo-militaristic, diplomatic sources said Sunday.
Xi and Trump met for the first time in Beijing between May 14 and 15 since Takaichi suggested in parliament last November that Japan could deploy its defense forces in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing, escalating tensions between the two Asian neighbors whose diplomatic ties have long been strained by Japan's wartime aggression.
According to the sources, Trump countered Xi by praising Takaichi, calling her from U.S. Air Force One on May 15 after the summit to reaffirm the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Takaichi told reporters after speaking with Trump that she received a detailed explanation of his meeting with Xi, but did not elaborate on their conversation.
Takaichi visited Washington in March ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, aiming to reaffirm the U.S. security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region as China's influence grows.
Trump and Xi are expected to hold three more meetings within the year, including a visit by Xi to Washington in September, as well as on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit.
