Japanese Prime Minister 
Sanae Takaichi is seeking a meeting with U.S. President 
Donald Trump during a late-September visit to the United States, ahead of Trump's Sept. 24 summit with Chinese leader 
Xi Jinping. She is due to address the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 22, her first time doing so as prime minister. Before the trip, Takaichi plans to complete her first cabinet reshuffle since taking office, along with changes to the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership, around Sept. 16, the Liberty Times reported.
Why does the timing matter? Takaichi sees a need to convey Japan's position on China to Trump before the summit, the Japan Times reported, and hopes to exchange views with him and demonstrate the two leaders' close ties. Japan-China ties have soured after Beijing strongly objected to a parliamentary remark by Takaichi on a possible Taiwan contingency, while Trump is hoping to secure economic gains in talks with Xi ahead of U.S. midterm elections in November. Tokyo wants to put its position to Trump directly and align views on China before he meets Xi in Washington, the Liberty Times reported.
What has Tokyo said? In remarks reported by the Japan Times, a Japanese government source said Tokyo has requested a meeting with Trump. "Even if we only have an opportunity for a brief chat, we can still have a substantive discussion," the source said. At a news conference on Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan would be "watching with great interest" the U.S.-China summit and would continue to coordinate closely "at all levels, including between the Japanese and U.S. leaders and foreign ministers."
Where do Tokyo and Washington differ? Differences have emerged between the two governments over the International Criminal Court and Japan's fiscal policy, the Japan Times reported. Japan has struggled to respond to the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, and Takaichi has avoided directly criticizing the United States despite Tokyo's emphasis on the rule of law. The United States has also called on her administration to reconsider her signature proactive yet responsible fiscal policy, amid concerns that rising interest rates in Japan could hurt the U.S. economy. One Japanese government source said that "rather than holding a meeting that could result in disagreements, it would be better to forgo it for now," and that hearing from Trump by phone after the U.S.-China summit would be more important.
Figures referenced: Sanae Takaichi, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping. — JudgeMarket.
