Tokyo: Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a phone call with United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a day after Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The call comes at a sensitive moment as relations between Japan and China have been strained following recent remarks about Taiwan.

According to Japanese officials, President Trump briefed Prime Minister Takaichi on the current state of United States China relations. However, both sides did not share specific details of the discussion. The Japanese government stressed that stability between the United States and China is important for the entire international community, including Japan.

The phone conversation took place shortly after Prime Minister Takaichi told Japan’s parliament that Japan might consider a military response if China attacked Taiwan. Her comments drew a strong reaction from Beijing, which opposes any suggestion of foreign involvement in the Taiwan issue.

On Monday, President Trump had spoken with President Xi. During their call, Xi repeated China’s long standing position that Taiwan’s integration with China is central to the country’s goals. Taiwan has rejected this claim and continues to assert its own democratic governance.

The quick succession of calls highlights the growing tension in the region. Japan is seeking to maintain its close alliance with the United States while also managing its difficult relationship with China. Observers say the latest discussions show how central the United States remains in shaping security dynamics in East Asia.

As the situation around Taiwan continues to draw international attention, both Japan and the United States are expected to keep a close watch on Beijing’s next moves.