Chinese Premier Li Qiang has reached out to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba through a letter, urging a united front against the tariff policies implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump, as reported by Japan’s Kyodo news agency on Tuesday. The correspondence, delivered via the Chinese embassy in Japan, emphasized the importance of collaboratively combating protectionism, according to several Japanese government officials cited by Kyodo.
Both nations’ foreign ministries have yet to provide a response to inquiries regarding the matter. On Monday, Beijing cautioned other nations against pursuing broader economic agreements with the United States that could be detrimental to its interests, intensifying its rhetoric amid an escalating trade conflict between the two largest economies globally.
Japan, a key ally of Washington, was one of the numerous countries affected by Trump’s extensive tariffs earlier this month and has initiated discussions with the United States to address the situation. In recent years, relations between Beijing and Tokyo have been strained due to various issues, including territorial disputes and trade conflicts.
