Trump Arrives in Tokyo to Secure Asia Trade and Security Wins Before Meeting Xi

27 October 2025

Donald Trump touched down in Tokyo on Monday for a crucial phase of his five-day Asian tour, eyeing trade deals and security talks in Japan ahead of his planned summit with Xi Jinping in South Korea later this week.

In Malaysia over the weekend, Trump inked several agreements with Southeast Asian nations involving trade and critical minerals, and the groundwork was laid for a U.S.–China framework that could avert the threatened 100 percent U.S. tariff on Chinese imports come November 1. As he arrived in Tokyo, Trump told reporters he had “a lot of respect for President Xi” and expected the meeting to yield a positive outcome.

His reception in Japan had clear symbolic weight. Trump met with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace, donning a gold tie and blue suit amid Tokyo skyscrapers lit in red, white and blue. The mood was one of spectacle and alliance. Meanwhile Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seen as eager to deepen defence ties with Washington and secure U.S. investment, reportedly near $550 billion already pledged.

Behind the diplomatic imagery lies a strategic alignment: Trump’s agenda seeks more U.S. exports and investment in Japanese manufacturing and resources, while Tokyo wants to signal its role as Washington’s key Asian partner. The visits include discussions of U.S. pickup trucks, soybeans and ship-building agreements — all in service of bolstering bilateral economic ties.

Of course, the broader stake is China. With talks between U.S. and Chinese officials yielding a preliminary “very positive” trade framework, expectations are cautiously set for the Trump-Xi meeting on Thursday. That deal could freeze tariff escalation and Chinese export controls on rare earths, an issue critical for U.S. manufacturing.

Yet while optimism lingers, the deal is not guaranteed. Officials describe it as “constructive” but note that internal approvals in Beijing and Washington remain necessary. Trump’s visit to Japan now becomes a staging ground, a chance to shore up regional alliances, secure Japanese commitments, and present momentum ahead of the China summit.

Markets have already responded. Asian stocks reached record highs in recent days, reflecting investor relief at signs of easing U.S.–China trade tensions. But for businesses and governments alike this remains a test of whether diplomacy can turn soft signals into durable agreements.

From the perspective of global security, Japan’s readiness to ramp up defence spending and deepen collaboration with the U.S. aligns with Trump’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy. Analysts will watch whether Tokyo’s investment pledges translate into practical cooperation, and how Tokyo positions itself between Washington and Beijing.

Looking ahead, the itinerary is clear: Tokyo now, then on to South Korea, followed by the meeting with Xi. The hopes are high that the trip will yield a tangible outcome as opposed to just photo-ops. That kind of success would bolster Trump’s image as a deal-maker and could shift the trajectory of U.S. China relations. The risk, of course, is that unmet expectations will reinforce uncertainty in global trade and security landscapes.