United States reaffirms defense commitments to Japan and South Korea while supporting Taiwan ahead of Trump-Xi summit

On September 21, 2026, the United States reaffirmed its defense commitments to Japan and South Korea while supporting Taiwan ahead of a summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with officials from Japan and South Korea, issuing a joint statement against economic coercion from China. The allies expressed concerns that Trump might offer concessions to Xi regarding Taiwan and trade, which could impact their competitiveness.