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 has a clear basis to scrutinize Meta's acquisition of Chinese-founded AI startup Manus on security grounds, a Chinese law expert said on Tuesday.
In late December last year, U.S. tech giant Meta announced plans to acquire Manus for 2 billion U.S. dollars. Chinese regulators have since launched an investigation into the deal for national security reasons.
China's top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, announced on Monday that the office of the foreign investment security review working mechanism had issued a decision to prohibit foreign investment in Manus and has ordered the parties involved to revoke the acquisition deal.
The ruling offers a rare but telling look into how China is applying its foreign investment screening rules to the AI sector.
"In Manus' case, much of its early R and D was conducted in China, and its core technical team consisted of Chinese engineers. These features mean that the movement of people, control over technology, and data flows are inherently connected to China's interests, creating a clear basis for security scrutiny," said Professor Zhang Linghan, director of the Institute of AI Law and Governance at China University of Political Science and Law.
Manus develops general-purpose AI agents and launched its first such agent in March 2025. But just months later, the company moved its headquarters to Singapore, cut most of its China-based workforce, and stopped serving users in the country.
By December 2025, Manus announced plans to be sold to the American tech giant Meta. Manus executives joined the staff of the American tech giant soon after.
Although Manus attempted to sever ties with China prior to the sale, Chinese regulators focused on the actual origin of the technology and personnel. Professor Zhang believes this approach is entirely reasonable, as other countries have conducted similar reviews in the past.
"Similar patterns exist in the U.S. and the UK. The U.S. scrutinized ByteDance's acquisition of Musical.ly, later TikTok, over concerns about U.S. user data and algorithmic control long after the deal closed. In the UK, the proposed acquisition of Arm triggered security concerns regarding core IP and defense autonomy, leading the buyer to withdraw during deeper review," she said.
Experts said that China's high-standard opening-up and security are not contradictory, as a rigorous national security review does not deter foreign investment.
They also recommended adding foundational AI technologies to the investment review catalogue, making advance filings mandatory rather than intervening retroactively.
China right to scrutinize Meta’s planned acquisition of Chinese AI firm Manus: law expert
