The Japanese government denied a report that US President Donald Trump advised Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to avoid provoking China over Taiwan.

The Wall Street Journal said that Trump advised Takaichi during their call this week not to provoke Beijing over the question of Taiwan’s sovereignty, citing unnamed Japanese officials and an American briefed on the call. The advice was subtle and the president didn’t pressure Takaichi to retract her comments, the report said.

“The article you mentioned contains a statement that President Trump advised not to provoke the Chinese government over Taiwan sovereignty issues, but there is no such fact,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a regular press conference on Thursday afternoon, when asked about the report.

Just weeks a

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