Japan Highlights Importance of US-China Ties for Global Stability

JAKARTA - The Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Kei Sato, underlined the importance of the US-China relationship for the world, following a telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Stability in US-China relations is very important for Japan and the international community," a government spokesman said at a press conference reported by ANTARA from Kyodo, Thursday, February 5.

"Based on the strong relationship of trust with our allies, the United States, Japan will continue to urge China to fulfill its responsibilities in accordance with its position," he added.

Trump said he discussed many important things with Xi, including trade and Taiwan, because of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement in November on the emergency surrounding the island that triggered tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

In response to the Trump-Xi phone call, Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te said relations between the democratically ruled island and the United States were "very strong", and that cooperation programs between the two sides would remain unchanged.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi told Trump that Taiwan was the most important issue in Sino-US relations and "would never be allowed to separate from China," while saying the United States should handle arms sales to Taiwan "carefully."

Previously in December, the Trump administration announced a large package of arms sales to Taiwan worth more than 11 billion US dollars (Rp185.7 trillion).