Japan Concerns Over Trump's Tariffs Steering Asian Nations Closer to China

US President Donald Trump's tariffs may push Asian countries closer to China and destabilize regional security, Japan's ruling party policy chief warned, calling for stronger defense ties between Washington and Tokyo.

"Many Asian countries have taken the same stance toward China as the US and Japan, but they are now feeling very uneasy over the Trump tariffs," said Liberal Democratic Party Policy Chief Itsunori Onodera at a Hudson Institute event in Washington on Monday. "More countries may distance themselves from the US and move closer to China — and that's not an outcome Japan would wish for," he said.

His comments came as many countries seek to negotiate with the United States over the Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs, which threaten not only Asian economies but also regional security. Tokyo is preparing to hold a second round of trade talks with Washington later this week.

In the face of mounting threats, including those from Beijing, former Japanese defense minister Onodera underlined the significance of bolstering defense cooperation with the United States. He mentioned escalating military drills, growing "cognitive warfare" over territorial disputes, and China's ongoing pressure on Taiwan as the main causes for concern.

During the two countries' initial trade talks earlier this month, Trump reportedly pressed Japan to shoulder more defense costs. The president has long criticized the alliance with Japan as "unequal," with the United States obligated to defend Japan while receiving little in exchange.

Onodera suggested that Japan and the United States could look into joint production and exports of defense equipment, particularly ammunition, citing recent policy changes that would allow Japan to do so. 

Japan currently faces a 25% tariff on cars, steel, and aluminum, as well as a 10% baseline tariff, which was temporarily reduced from 24%. Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief trade negotiator with the US, is scheduled to hold second-round talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others later this week.

"Given the current sensitive security environment, I believe that Japan should quickly resolve the tariff issue with the US in a win-win situation, and play its role in maintaining regional security," stated Onodera.