President Donald Trump’s meeting in Japan couldn’t have gone “any better,” and the U.S. “more than ever” needs a stronger alliance with Tokyo, Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., told Newsmax Wednesday.
During Trump’s trip to Asia earlier this week, Japan and the U.S. agreed to a deal on next-generation nuclear power reactors and rare earths, as Tokyo seeks a path back to export markets for its nuclear technology and both nations aim to reduce China’s dominance over key electronic components.
The president also finalized details with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on their fraught trade deal, and Trump also sounded an optimistic note about a looming summit with China’s Xi Jinping.
“I think it was an extraordinarily successful trip to Japan. And I just got off the phone with our chargé d’affaires, the acting ambassador in South Korea, another great trip there as well,” Hagerty told Newsmax’s “National Report.”
“I spoke with our U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, last night. He’s doing a terrific job. I don’t think the meeting in Japan could have gone any better.
“And if you think about it, we have more U.S. military stationed in Japan than in any other nation in the world. There’s a reason for that. Japan is in a very difficult neighborhood. You’ve got North Korea, Russia and China at your doorstep,” he added.
“You’ve seen what started happening in the Taiwan Strait, particularly after the Biden administration failed in Afghanistan. The sorties increased. So, what’s happening in the Philippines? More and more aggression by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).”
China has claimed sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea and has vowed to defend its territories at all costs.
In May, Chinese coast guard vessels backed by navy ships fired powerful water cannons and blocked, then sideswiped, a Philippine patrol vessel in renewed aggression at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, Philippine officials said.
China’s sweeping claims cover virtually the entire waterway and overlap with the territorial waters, exclusive economic zones and high-seas claims of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Indonesia has also had confrontations with the Chinese coast guard, which backs Beijing’s fishing fleets.
“What we need today is a stronger alliance with Japan more than ever,” Hagerty told Newsmax.
“And I will include South Korea in that alliance network as well. And it’s happening. President Trump is there to advance our interests. … I’m very optimistic about where this is going.”
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