Japan Denies Pearl Harbor Remark by Trump

August 30, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese government is working hard to deny a U.S. news report that President Donald Trump cited the Pearl Harbor attack when severely criticizing Japan's economic policies during the bilateral summit in June.

The Japanese government is concerned that the report by The Washington Post on Tuesday could undermine Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's comments showing pride in strong U.S.-Japan relations.

"There is no such fact," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference on Wednesday, when asked about whether the reported remark by Trump is true.

The comment contrasted with his reaction to a question on whether Japan and North Korea really held a secret meeting in Vietnam in July as reported in the paper. "I want to avoid making comments on each news report," Suga said.

According to the major U.S. daily, Trump voiced frustration when Abe visited the White House on June 7 to set out Japan's position before the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore on June 12.

During the "tense" meeting with Abe, Trump said, "I remember Pearl Harbor," referring to Japan's surprise attack in December 1941 that prompted the United States to enter World War II, the paper reported, quoting people familiar with their conversation.

The U.S. president then "launched into a blistering critique of Japan's economic policies," the report went on.

Trump reportedly urged Abe to negotiate a bilateral trade accord so the United States can expand beef and vehicle exports. Abe, although "exasperated," waited for Trump to conclude his remarks and "rebuffed" the president's overture, according to the paper.

During a joint press conference after the meeting, Trump was voluble, including remarks suggesting frustration at the large U.S. trade deficit with Japan.

By contrast, Abe made no reference to bilateral trade. He said that the two leaders spent plenty of time on discussing issues surrounding North Korea, insisting that Japan and the United States always stay together.

Abe, who has taken advantage of firm ties with Trump as one of his strengths, is emphasizing the "strongest-ever Japan-U.S. relationship" during his regional speeches for the leadership election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in September.

With the credibility of his claim weakened by the U.S. newspaper report, it is now likely that Japan-U.S. relations will become a focal point of the upcoming leadership race. Abe is seeking a third consecutive term as LDP president. Jiji Press