June 18, 2018

TOKYO — President Donald Trump’s tough line on trade with China has finally given Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe something to agree with Beijing about.

After years of skirmishing with China over territory and security, Mr. Abe is promoting a rapprochement that reflects Tokyo’s need for allies in upholding the postwar free-trading system. It’s an example of how Mr. Trump’s “America first” policy of curbing imports he says threaten the U.S. are reshaping relations around the globe.

“I want to lift up the Japan-China relationship to a new stage,” Mr. Abe said at a news conference this month, describing a May visit to Japan by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as “an important first step toward a dramatic improvement.”

Read more:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/japan-views-china-as-ally-in-trump-trade-fight-1529336612