The head of Japan's leading business lobby expressed hope for favorable economic ties in a meeting with China's ambassador to Japan.

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takiachi to avoid further escalation of a dispute with China during talks this week, sources with knowledge of the matter said, as he aims to keep a fragile trade war truce with Beijing.

The Xi–Trump call signals China’s effort to reframe US–China relations from the post-Nixon framework to a post-World War II alignment. This is concerning for Japan.

China is trying to impose economic costs on Japan for wading into the issue of Taiwan. But experts say the escalating dispute could ultimately hurt China too.

Japan and China recently agreed to cooperate more economically. Now, climbing tensions are threatening that cooperation.

Thailand International Motor Expo, which kicks off on Saturday near Bangkok, brings together 42 global automakers.

Beijing and Paris should “firmly support each other on issues involving each other’s core interests,” Wang said, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.