Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba to warn Trump against Asia-Pacific ‘power vacuum’

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced Friday that he will prioritize regional security and prepare for difficult negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump to secure his commitment to maintaining a strong American presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.

Why It Matters

The United States remains Japan’s only treaty ally, and Japanese officials are concerned that since his election, Trump may deprioritize regional relationships established under former President Joe Biden to counter China’s expanding influence in the region.

What to Know

After suffering a major electoral setback in October, driven by public outrage over his party’s financial scandals, Ishiba now faces the challenge of maintaining his grip on power until the next major elections this summer.

What Is Ishiba Worried About?

Japan’s concerns over a potential U.S. retreat from the region have grown amid China’s increasingly assertive military posture and North Korea’s continued ballistic missile tests, which are advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities.

Ishiba stated that Japan is confronting “the most severe and complicated security environment” since World War II. He emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities, enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance, and broaden ties with other regional and global partners.

Ishiba emphasized that increased dialogue is crucial to preventing misunderstandings and expressed his commitment to fostering constructive relations with China.

What Can Ishiba Do To Improve Japan’s Security in the Asia Pacific?

Alongside strengthening Japan-U.S. ties—long regarded by Tokyo as the cornerstone of its foreign and security policies—Ishiba aims to advance multilateral partnerships. These include trilateral cooperation with South Korea and the Philippines, as well as the Quad alliance with Australia and India.

This week, Ishiba expressed his hope to discuss with Trump how both nations can “make the most of each other’s national interests” while contributing to global peace and economic growth.

To underscore his focus on regional diplomacy, Ishiba recently visited Indonesia and Malaysia, while dispatching Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya to China, South Korea, and the Philippines.

What Other Problems Does Japan Face and How Will Ishiba Solve Them?

Ishiba outlined his policy priorities, which include addressing Japan’s population decline, boosting stagnant wages, reducing national debt, and enhancing disaster resilience—a key personal initiative. Moving away from past national ambitions of a “strong Japan” and a “wealthy Japan,” he said his vision is for “a fun Japan,” where diversity is embraced and people feel safe and secure.

What People Are Saying

Ishiba said in a policy speech to Parliament. “With the balance of power in the region making a historic change, we must further deepen Japan-U.S. cooperation and ensure the U.S. commitment to the region to prevent any power vacuum from destabilizing it,”

What Happens Next

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been seeking a meeting with Trump since his election victory in November and is currently planning a trip to Washington in the coming weeks.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.