PM Takaichi: Japan, U.S. Share ‘Same Awareness’ on Taiwan Situation

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:30 JST, March 27, 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated that there is no discrepancy in view between Japan and the United States regarding the Taiwan situation.

She made the remarks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Thursday when she reported on the outcome of the Japan-U.S. summit on March 20.

Regarding the fact that the U.S. government’s post-summit outcome documents included the importance of “peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” but Japan’s summit announcement made no such reference, Takaichi stated, “Our understanding is completely aligned with the description by the United States.”

Takaichi positioned the U.S. documents as “issued solely by the United States” and explained that they “not only provide a description on our exchanges during the summit but also the United States’ perspective [of Taiwan] on the occasion of my visit.”

At a press conference on Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara addressed the absence of any mention of Taiwan in the announcement made by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

“The government as a whole, including the prime minister, has in no way deleted such content from the announcement,” Kihara said.

During the plenary session, Takaichi also reported on her exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding how to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Takaichi noted that when she conveyed to Trump that there are things Japan can and cannot do within the bounds of the law, she had the impression that he listened carefully to her explanation and understood it.