US President Donald Trump's postponement of his trip to China for at least six weeks is related to the unresolved war against Iran. News that Donald Trump would visit China in late March or early April was spread before the US started the war with Iran. It seems that Trump and his entourage thought Iran would surrender before the trip to China. Although Iran has weakened, it continues its resistance. In such a situation, Donald Trump concluded that it would not be right to visit China without resolving issues with Iran.
Trump announced the postponement of the trip to China during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House on March 19. Saying “I will praise Japan during my trip to China,” Trump emphasized that tensions remain between Beijing and Tokyo. He reminded about this because only he can resolve this tension.
The US President and the Japanese Prime Minister agreed to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries. Sanae Takaichi promised that Japan would invest 73 billion dollars in the US economy. In addition, Japan will increase the volume of oil it imports from the US. International issues were also discussed during the meeting of the two leaders. Sanae Takaichi stated that Japan supports the US on the Iran issue. The Japanese Prime Minister said that the complicated situation in the Strait of Hormuz negatively affects not only the Middle East but also the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions.
Donald Trump did not hide his expectation for operational support from Tokyo regarding the Strait of Hormuz issue. Saying “Japan has 45,000 troops,” Trump expressed his wish for Japanese troops to participate in ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz. It is difficult for Tokyo to make a decision on this issue. Although the Japanese Prime Minister says she supports the US in words, she does not want to play a role in a war against Iran. However, Tokyo's maneuvering options are limited. If Tokyo remains silent to Trump's calls for support, US military support for Japan may weaken. This would benefit China, which is increasing its military power in the region, creating a serious security problem for Japan. Tokyo is also concerned that Donald Trump might sideline Japan’s interests during his visit to China. China's military ships have increased the number of military exercises in waters near Japanese shores. China's policy of bringing Taiwan under control also deeply worries Tokyo. Japan cannot cope with China's growing power alone. Tokyo needs Washington's support. In such a case, Tokyo is forced to consider Washington's wishes.
Elkhan Shahinoghlu,
political analyst