Trump brings uncertainty to US-Japan relations: expert

Although the Japanese government has expressed its desire to strengthen ties with the Donald Trump administration, uncertainty remains over his unpredictable approach, according to a Japan-based political expert.

Trump has garnered supporters in Japan, driven by his campaign slogans and policies that resonate with certain political and economic views in the country.

In Tokyo, Trump supporters have been holding rallies to celebrate his return to the U.S. presidency.

Inspired by his "America First" policy, they argue that the Japanese government should take a similar approach and prioritize national interests.

"Trump taught us we should do 'Japan First' and we should stand by ourselves," said Yoko Matsuoka, a Trump supporter in Tokyo.

According to Paul Nadeau, professor of politics and international affairs at Temple University’s Japan Campus, Trump's unsettling unpredictability is a strategic move to gain leverage.

"We don't quite know what Trump wants to see from the U.S.-Japan relationship. We've seen tweets, we've seen statements, but we don't quite know what kind of deliverables he's expecting. And that's kind of the point with Trump -- he wants to keep things unpredictable because he thinks that creates leverage," said Nadeau.

Despite differing interests between the two nations, Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed hope for a "win-win" relationship with the U.S., though Trump's stance on Japan remains unclear.

Both nations play key roles in the Asia-Pacific region and in regional cooperation frameworks such as the QUAD and U.S.-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Cooperation.

Nadeau explained that Trump prefers bilateral negotiations over multilateral alliances, which could affect frameworks like U.S.-Japan-South Korea cooperation. However, he noted that the Trump administration may still see strategic benefits in maintaining some partnerships.

"Generally, Trump likes to work bilaterally. He likes to work one-on-one, mano-a-mano. And generally, alliances or multilateral forums just aren't really his thing. So, there's sort of a general, abstract bias against frameworks like trilateral cooperation. But at the same time, there could be benefits to the United States that Trump administration may see as being worth keeping," he said.

Trump brings uncertainty to US-Japan relations: expert

China on Tuesday unveiled a set of measures to unlock the consumption potential of counties and smaller cities, tapping the vast lower-tier markets as a new source of domestic demand and economic growth.

The government calls for upgrading consumption channels in counties, including renovating township commercial centers, rural markets and local fairs, encourages domestic and international brands to open regional debut stores, and promotes the redevelopment of existing land resources to improve services, according to a guideline jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and other authorities.

The guideline also urges better services that cater to the elderly and children, more efficient urban-rural distribution networks, and stronger county-level employment, as well as more channels for residents to increase their incomes.

The measures come as China seeks to give consumption a bigger role in driving economic growth.

The lower-tier markets, generally referring to third-tier and smaller cities, counties, townships and rural areas, account for about 70 percent of China's population and 60 percent of total retail sales of consumer goods. These markets have emerged as a key link between urban and rural economies and an important part of the domestic economic cycle.

The lower-tier markets have diverse needs across different levels, said Shen Bing, a researcher at an institute under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), noting that this diversity can provide broad room for businesses to develop new service models while creating new momentum for consumption.

Official data showed that retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas rose 2.4 percent year on year in the first seven months of 2026, 1.3 percentage points faster than in urban areas. County-and township-level retail sales were estimated to account for nearly 40 percent of the country's total.

China's 2,800-plus county-level administrative divisions form a vast and diverse domestic market, said Chen Xi, a researcher with the NDRC, noting that consumption upgrade is gradually extending from major cities to county-level markets, providing an endogenous source of consumption growth.

China moves to unlock county-level consumption, energize domestic demand