Trump and Xi discuss WWII alliance during Washington summit

Following a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House released a fact sheet acknowledging that the United States and China were allies during World War II. The document noted that the two leaders recalled fighting side by side to win the war.

While the White House adopted a conciliatory tone regarding historical ties with China, the fact sheet also emphasized the importance of the U.S. military presence in Japan to maintain a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific.’

In the wake of the summit, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke with President Trump via telephone. Takaichi reported that the discussion covered economic and national security matters, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to close coordination between the United States and Japan. The call follows recent meetings between Takaichi and Trump in New York, as Tokyo continues to monitor the evolving direction of U.S.-China relations.