As U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to mark his 100th day in office on April 29, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stands out as a leader who has had frequent contact with the president -- with one summit and five telephone conversations since Trump took office.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has spoken of a "strong relationship of trust" between Abe and Trump that has emerged amid a general sense of caution within the international community over the Trump administration.
The Japanese government has prioritized efforts to keep the Trump government committed to the Asia-Pacific region as it warily eyes China's rise as a military power, noting that the United States could have otherwise become inward-looking.
At an April 28 news conference, Suga told reporters, "Japan-U.S. relations have reached a rock-solid level never seen before, backed by the strong relationship of trust between the two leaders, amid extremely difficult security relations in the Asia-Pacific region."
Amidst rising tensions surrounding North Korea, Japan and the U.S. have joined hands to pressure the North to stop provocations while calling on China to play its part.
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