TOKYO, October 14 — Senior American diplomats and military officials convened in Tokyo from October 7 to 9 for an inaugural Indo-Pacific ambassadorial summit hosted by US Ambassador to Japan George Glass. The gathering, described by one source as ‘unusual’, brought together ambassadors to South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, and ASEAN, along with US Ambassador to China David Perdue and Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, who serves as the de facto American envoy to Taiwan.
At Yokosuka naval base, Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, briefed attendees including Allison Hooker, undersecretary of state for political affairs, and counsellor Daniel Holler, alongside Rear Admiral Kyle Gantt, deputy commander of the US Seventh Fleet. Discussions centred on Washington’s regional priorities, coordination of diplomatic messaging, denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and regional maritime and economic cooperation.
The summit occurred as President Donald Trump prepared to meet counterparts from the Philippines, China, Japan, India, and Australia, with possible talks also on the table regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It took place amid reported unease among American allies over Trump’s approach to China and his commitment to a ‘free and open’ Indo-Pacific, particularly after he described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a ‘friend’ while criticising allies and referred to a pending $14 billion arms package for Taiwan as a ‘negotiating chip’.
Trump had previously hosted Xi for a full state visit in September in Washington, where he called the US and China ‘allies in World War II’, a statement that echoed Beijing’s wartime narrative against Japan. Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary.
Officials said the summit aimed to align diplomatic and military messaging ahead of Trump’s upcoming Asia trip, though no joint statement was issued following the meetings. Going forward, attention will turn to Trump’s scheduled visit to China in November and whether the coordination reached in Tokyo translates into a unified US position on Taiwan, North Korea, and regional security.
