Osaka [Japan], June 28: United States President Donald Trump on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the 14th G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, a day after Trump appeared to irradiate a previous controversy that he was considering potential termination of the post-world war defence treaty with Tokyo.
Interacting with Fox Business on Wednesday, the US president noted under the pact, which he slammed as unfair, Japan would not have to assist the US if it were attacked, though the US would have to provide help if it comes to Tokyo. He said, “If Japan is attacked, we will fight World War III.”
According to ANI news reports, Trump said, “We will go in and protect them with our lives and with our treasure. But if we’re attacked, Japan doesn’t have to help us. They can watch it on a Sony television.”
Moreover, Washington and Japan are currently stuck in a rusted trade spat as the Trump administration seeks to lessen the US trade deficit. Abe and Trump today discussed Asia-Pacific and the joint infrastructural activities in neighbouring nations like Sri Lanka.
Trump has arrived in Osaka on Thursday evening, according to The Japan Times news reports, welcomed by protesters, tight traffic control, and storm in the city, to attend the 14the G20 summit scheduled for two days that kicked off today.
The US president is slated to hold nine bilateral meetings with nations such as Russia, China, and Japan at the June 28-20 summit of Group of 20.
On Thursday, Abe, who met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to hold a conference for both the defence and foreign ministers of the two sides ahead of Abe’s scheduled visit to New Delhi later this year.
The development to hold high-level dialogues to discuss security and police was made during Abe and Modi’s bilateral meeting yesterday at G20 Osaka summit.
However, the dates had not been yet finalized, but India’s foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, “The date of the meeting will be discussed but the meeting will take place before Abe’s visit.”
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