US, Japan Look to Deepen Ties as Tokyo Faces China Pressure

Marco Rubio and Toshimitsu Motegi in Oct., 2025. 

Photographer: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral ties in a meeting Saturday, as the Asian nation faces escalating tensions with China.

The two officials agreed on the need to modernize economic security relations and discussed Beijing’s latest trade and export measures against Japan, according a State Department readout released after their talks in Munich.