Donald Trump called Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi this week and advised him not to provoke China over Taiwan.
This was reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing Japanese officials and an American familiar with the call.
According to the publication, Trump spoke with Takaichi after Chinese President Xi Jinping called the US president and discussed China's historical claims to Taiwan, as well as the joint responsibility of Washington and Beijing for maintaining world order.
Takaichi said in early November that a hypothetical attack on Taiwan by China could provoke a military response from Japan, which caused a diplomatic row with China.
The WSJ notes that Trump did not pressure Takaichi to retract his comments and that Trump's response was somewhat restrained.
At the same time, Tokyo confirmed the phone conversation, but refused to comment on reports that the US president had put pressure on the Japanese leadership.
