The key facts

  • Japan is seeking a Takaichi–Trump meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila on November 15–18
  • The goal is to convey Tokyo's position on China and Russia ahead of a possible US–China–Russia trilateral summit
  • The trilateral meeting of Trump, Xi Jinping and Putin has not yet been agreed: neither the date nor the agenda

Talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit

Japan has asked the United States to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related meetings in Manila, Kyodo News reports, citing diplomatic sources, followed by Anadolu. The ASEAN summit and related meetings are scheduled for November 15–18 in Manila; Trump is expected to take part in the ASEAN–US meeting on November 17, after which the leaders will gather at the APEC summit on November 18–19 in Shenzhen, southern China.

Why Tokyo wants this meeting

According to Anadolu, Japan hopes that Takaichi will be able to present Tokyo's position on China and Russia ahead of a possible trilateral meeting between Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The prime minister, who is expected to attend both regional summits, also seeks to strengthen coordination with Washington on regional security and diplomacy.

The trilateral meeting remains uncertain

Xi and Trump are expected to hold bilateral talks during the APEC summit, and a possible three-way meeting — with Putin's participation — is also being discussed. However, neither the date nor the format of such a meeting has been agreed yet. Beijing has confirmed that discussions on the proposed meeting are underway, while Moscow has expressed interest in bringing the three leaders together. Against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the agenda of possible trilateral talks, Japan is pursuing its own initiative — seeking to convey its position to the American side in advance.