Japan is seeking a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump in Manila next week to convey Tokyo’s position on China and Russia ahead of possible trilateral talks, Anadolu Ajansı reported on Thursday.
As Tokyo prepares for regional diplomatic engagements, the country is also pursuing a broader security and cooperation role in Southeast Asia. This push aligns with ongoing regional frameworks like the Quad and looks ahead to the 50th anniversary of the Fukuda Doctrine, which Academic Shin Kawashima noted in ThinkChina remains a ballast to Japan-ASEAN relations.
Japan hopes Takaichi can communicate Tokyo’s stance before a potential three-way meeting involving Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Mezha.net. Tokyo has approached Washington about arranging these talks on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings.
The ASEAN summit and related events are scheduled for November 15-18 in Manila, with Trump expected to attend an ASEAN-US meeting on November 17, Anadolu Ajansı reported. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit will follow on November 18-19 in Shenzhen, China.
Beyond bilateral diplomacy with Washington, Japan is seeking to strengthen security cooperation through the Quad, which comprises Japan, the United States, Australia, and India. Foreign ministers from the grouping met in May, July, and October.
“This demonstrates our steady cooperation among the nations, and the core objective of Quad is to deliver practical and tangible benefits to the region to sustain peace, stability and prosperity by reinforcing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Yonetani said, CNA reported. Yonetani declined to comment on specific arrangements regarding a possible Quad meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN summit.
Japan is also expanding its cooperation with ASEAN into disaster management, utilizing expertise gained from responding to domestic natural disasters. Tokyo launched its National Disaster Management Agency on November 2 to enhance preparedness for major calamities, including a potential megaquake along its Pacific coast or an eruption of Mount Fuji.
The agency operates with a staff of more than 350 people overseeing preparedness, emergency response, and reconstruction efforts. Yonetani said that the new agency strengthens domestic capabilities while creating opportunities to share expertise and improve disaster preparedness with ASEAN partners.
| Event / Initiative | Date | Location / Context |
|---|---|---|
| National Disaster Management Agency Launch | November 2, 2026 | Japan (Domestic preparedness for megaquakes and volcanic eruptions) |
| ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings | November 15–18, 2026 | Manila, Philippines (Includes scheduled ASEAN-US meeting on Nov. 17) |
| APEC Leaders’ Summit | November 18–19, 2026 | Shenzhen, China |
