President Donald Trump boasts ‘fearsome’ US military in the Pacific during final Japan speech aimed at rivals China, North Korea
- His address to 800 cheering military personnel marked Memorial Day, the US holiday honouring the war dead. But it was also clearly aimed at growing rival China and North Korea
- It followed a landmark visit to Japan, where he became the first foriegn guest to meet new Emperor Naruhito
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Addressing more than 800 uniformed service members in the belly of the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship at the Yokosuka US naval base, Trump said they were part of “the most fearsome group of American warriors this side of the Pacific”.
The US military has no intention of losing its paramount status in the world, Trump said, insisting it will “forever remain second to none”.
“We have equipment, missiles, rockets, tanks, planes, ships – no one in the entire world can build them like we do. It’s not even close,” he said.
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Trump told the sailors, marines and other personnel that they were “confronting this region’s pressing security challenges with unmatched courage”.
“You know what we’re talking about,” he said.
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Abe talked about the “increasingly severe security environment” in the region and confirmed that the Kaga was being converted to take not only helicopters but also fighter planes.
“With this extraordinary new equipment, the JS Kaga will help our nations defend against a range of complex threats in the region and far beyond,” Trump added.
There was little real substance in Trump’s visit to Japan, which started Saturday and included a golf game with Abe and presentation by the American president of a huge trophy at a Tokyo sumo tournament.
We have equipment, missiles, rockets, tanks, planes, ships – no one in the entire world can build them like we do. It’s not even close
But the main goal was to celebrate the countries’ alliance and, from Japan’s point of view, to charm Trump ahead of tricky negotiations on the muscular US demand for more market access.
That seemed to work, with Trump signalling there will be no move on trade until after an upper house election here in July.
Other world leaders will have to wait until larger-scale celebrations in October. The Trumps went to see Naruhito at his palace on Monday morning and then again in the evening for a banquet featuring six courses, including Trump’s favourite – beef – and a dessert described as Glace Mont Fuji.
The emperor and Trump both made toasts praising their countries’ friendship. The US president even sprinkled a few Japanese words into his address, referencing ancient Japanese poetry.
Trump and the first lady said goodbye to the Japanese royal couple on Tuesday before leaving Tokyo. The White House only described this as a “farewell call”, and there were no immediate details on how it went.
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Although the whole Japan trip was designed to be a feel-good display, there was an awkward moment Monday when Trump flatly contradicted Abe and some of his own advisers on North Korea.
