Xi Jinping Strongly Criticizes Japanese Remilitarization at Trump Summit
During a high-profile, two-day bilateral summit in Beijing on May 13–14, 2026, Chinese leader Xi Jinping launched an intense, agitated diatribe against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Xi strongly criticized Japan's "remilitarization" and rapid increase in defense spending, marking one of the most heated segments of his meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The outburst caught Trump administration officials off guard, as Japan was not on the pre-summit agenda. Trump defended Takaichi, explaining that Japan's aggressive security posture is a necessary response to the growing nuclear threat from North Korea. Immediately after the summit, Trump called Takaichi from Air Force One to brief her on the exchange, demonstrating strong U.S.-Japan solidarity.
Under Takaichi, Japan has undertaken historic shifts in its post-WWII defense policy to counter rapid Chinese military modernization and aggressive maneuvers near Taiwan. Key developments include:
- Increasing the defense budget to 1.9% of GDP, bringing Japan just short of its historic 2% target.
- Easing restrictions on the export of lethal defense equipment.
- Re-evaluating Tokyo's long-standing "three nonnuclear principles" (not producing, possessing, or hosting nuclear weapons) due to concerns about the reliability of the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
Takaichi has also taken an unprecedentedly firm stance on Taiwan, stating in parliament that a Chinese naval blockade of the democratic island would constitute a "survival-threatening situation," which could trigger the deployment of Japan's Self-Defense Forces under the right to collective self-defense.
In response, Beijing has deployed informal economic coercion against Tokyo, including warning Chinese tourists against visiting Japan, banning Japanese seafood imports, and restricting rare-earth mineral exports. Despite this pressure, Takaichi's popularity remains high, and her party won a landslide election in February 2026. While minor diplomatic contacts continue, Xi's visible anger indicates that relations between Beijing and Tokyo are set for prolonged tension.
Verbatim Quotes
- "The conversation, which saw Xi become visibly agitated and vocal over Japan’s increased defense spending, was among the most heated parts of the U.S.-China leaders summit, the Financial Times reported..." — The Japan Times
- "Beijing has taken a particularly strident tone toward Tokyo after Takaichi became the first sitting prime minister to detail a specific case of how Japan might respond to a Taiwan Strait crisis." — The Japan Times