Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed close cooperation with the US during a call with President Donald Trump, hours after he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese state media reported on Tuesday. Takaichi said her conversation with Trump had been on the request of the US President who briefed her on his phone conversation with Xi on Monday.

However, she refrained from elaborating. Beijing and Tokyo have sparred over Takaichi’s earlier remarks that suggested Tokyo could deploy its military forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Following this, Beijing suspended resumption of Japanese seafood imports and advised against travel to Japan.