Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Terada. AP Yonhap News

The Japanese government has stated that it is difficult to refer to reports by U.S. media claiming that U.S. President Donald Trump advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a phone call on the 25th not to provoke China over the Taiwan issue as diplomatic conversations.

At a press conference on the 27th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Terada, the spokesperson for the Japanese government, responded to a question about whether the reports regarding President Trump's advice were true, saying, "As the detailed contents of the meeting (phone call) are diplomatic conversations, I will refrain from answering."

Terada stated, "The leaders of Japan and the United States broadly exchanged opinions on strengthening the alliance, the Indo-Pacific situation, and challenges," and reiterated what Prime Minister Takaichi mentioned immediately after the phone call with President Trump.

Terada said, "President Trump explained the recent U.S.-China relations," and added, "Both leaders confirmed close cooperation between the U.S. and Japan in the current international situation."

In this regard, a Japanese government official told NHK, "There was a conversation with the nuance of cooperating to de-escalate the situation between President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi," and stated, "(The U.S.) did not demand restraint."

Earlier, the U.S. daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 26th (local time), citing U.S. and Japanese government officials, that President Trump had mentioned to Prime Minister Takaichi in a phone call the need to lower the volume of rhetoric regarding Taiwan.

Following Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks on the 7th in the House of Representatives hinting at intervention in the event of a Taiwan contingency, tensions between Japan and China have been escalating. President Trump has had consecutive phone calls with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Takaichi.

Within Japan, there are reports that anxiety is spreading due to President Trump not clearly expressing a stance of supporting Japan, an ally, on this matter.

Meanwhile, regarding the Chinese Embassy in Japan's request for its citizens in Japan to exercise caution for their safety the previous day, Terada stated, "I will refrain from commenting on each individual matter," and added that the government will continue to rebut China's assertions that are contrary to facts and monitor the situation.

The Japanese Consulate General in Hong Kong posted on social media (SNS) expressing "deepest condolences" regarding the apartment fire tragedy that occurred in Hong Kong the previous day. 

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