US Reaffirms Japan, Korea, Taiwan Pledges Hours Before Trump-Xi Summit

🛡️ INDO-PACIFIC — Washington signals Xi before he sits down: the alliance cost isn't negotiable. 📌 LOOK CLOSER: Pre-summit reassurances to Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei aren't routine — they're a constraint message. Trump enters the room having already told allies he won't trade their security for a trade deal. Xi reads this as reduced US flexibility on Taiwan exactly when Beijing's economic leverage over Iran-distracted Washington is highest.