Japan, US leaders sign economic agreement

Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and United States President Donald Trump reaffirmed their close alliance in defense and economic security during their talks in Tokyo on Tuesday.

After the meeting, Takaichi and Trump signed a document affirming the steady implementation of a trade agreement reached in July, which includes Japan's commitment to invest $550 billion in key US industries such as semiconductors, critical minerals, and shipbuilding, as well as to increase its purchases of US agricultural and other products, according to Kyodo News.

Nikkei Asia reported that the two leaders signed an agreement establishing a framework to ensure stable supplies of critical minerals and rare earths.

A release from the White House said the two leaders instructed relevant ministers and secretaries to "take further steps for a new golden age of the ever-growing US-Japan alliance".

At a regular news conference in Beijing on Tuesday, when asked about the meeting between the Japanese and US leaders where they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the alliance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the Asia-Pacific is a stellar example of peace and development. The growth of bilateral relations and security cooperation between the US and Japan need to be conducive to regional peace and stability, rather than the other way around.

Given Japan's history of militaristic aggression during the last century, Japan's military and security moves have been closely watched by its Asian neighbors and the international community, he said.

Guo urged Japan to respect neighboring countries' security concerns, deeply reflect on its history of aggression, stick to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the wider international community through concrete actions.

On Tuesday afternoon, Takaichi and Trump, traveling together by a US presidential helicopter, visited the US naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Yokosuka Naval Base is the only home port for a US aircraft carrier outside the United States.

Their meeting took place a week after Takaichi was elected prime minister by lawmakers. In her parliamentary speech last Friday, Takaichi pledged to increase Japan's defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product by March — two years ahead of the previously set goal of fiscal 2027.

Trump last came to Japan in 2019 for the G20 summit in Osaka. His current trip is part of a three-country swing through Asia that began on Friday, with a stop in Malaysia before heading to Japan and South Korea afterward.