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Ishiba should put ‘Japan first’ in dealings with Trump, advisor says

"It doesn't help to have a Japanese prime minister who is going to kowtow to the American president," said Japanese American Machida, who is now based in Tokyo. (AFP)
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21 Jan 2025 06:01:14 GMT9
21 Jan 2025 06:01:14 GMT9

Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A former advisor to US President Donald Trump said Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru should not rush into dealings with the new American administration and seek to meet the new president and to be strong in negotiations.

Ado Machida, a former director of policy implementation in Donald Trump’s first presidential transition team, said in an interview with Kyodo News that Ishiba needs to take a “Japan first” mindset, which is vital to building meaningful ties with Trump.

“It doesn’t help to have a Japanese prime minister who is going to kowtow to the American president,” said Japanese American Machida, who is now based in Tokyo. He has advised the Japanese government not to rush to arrange a summit with Trump.

Machida says Ishiba should take a similar policy line to Trump and promote a “Japan first” policy. “You want someone who’s going to be strong and who’s going to tell him the truth and who’s going to give him objective truths,” he said.

Former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo made great efforts to ingratiate himself with Trump, even presenting him with a golden golf club.

Japan is worried that Trump will impose tariffs on Japanese goods and will want to increase payment for hosting US troops on Japanese soil.

Machida said he expects “quite tough” negotiations on Tokyo’s financial contribution to support US troops in Japan, with many Americans questioning the rationale of maintaining forces in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Germany. The current arrangement will expire in 2027. 

Machida was previously a domestic policy aide to Dick Cheney, who was vice president from 2001 to 2009 in the George W. Bush administration. He is currently president of the Japanese subsidiary of Hard Rock International Inc.

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