Replies

Trump is reminding Japan that they are a key ally, both politically and economically, and that we need to stand together against our common enemy, China -- to mutual benefit.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yes, yes, yes!

Great post.

In addition to these economic factors,
there is very strong animosity between China and Japan
dating at least to the attempted conquest of China by the
Japanese Empire known as the 2nd Sino-Japanese War (1931-1945),
wherein Japan captured Shanghai and Nanjing.

Since WWII, Japan has been crucial to the encirclement of
the USSR, and now the containment of China.

Military strategists have referred to Japan as an "Unsinkable U.S. aircraft carrier."

Japan--a great military culture--has been quietly re-militarizing
in the last few years. I'm guessing they could just about
hold their own today against China.

Japan is indeed a crucial U.S. ally; while Communist
China is our emerging enemy for the 21st century.

here is very strong animosity between China and Japan dating at least to the attempted conquest of China by the Japanese Empire known as the 2nd Sino-Japanese War (1931-1945)

Back a little further to 1274 when Kublai Khan attempted to invade Japan. Failing he tried again in 1281. Finally driven fro Tshushima Island, butchered by the Japs. He apparently wanted another go but died before he could.

Since the Oriental mind is inscrutable to the West, there is no 'for sure', but the Jap campaign in WWII was prefaced by the carving up of the Qing dynasty by the western powers of which Japan was a part. Japan was on the side of the good guys vs the Boxers. These things combined with an uncompromising racial superiority complex contributed to the Japanese actions in WWII. They also account for the current dislike between Japan and the ChiComs.