A recent survey of Japanese corporations revealed some unsurprising results. Of the companies that responded to the survey not one thought a Trump presidency would have a positive effect on any relevant issues facing the two countries. Be it trade, government to government relations or security all those felt relations between the two allies would become strained. Maybe that's due to the rather ignorant statements made by Donald Trump over the last several months about Japan. First he accused Japan of stealing American jobs which is rather interesting as there aren't working age people to fill all the current vacancies at businesses large and small. That was followed by him demanding that the Japanese government should pay for the right to have U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan. But the most ignorant statement to come out Trump's pie hole was that Japan, the only country to have ever been attacked with nuclear weapons should deploy these weapons even though there is political or public support to do so.
The Republican frontrunner, known for his unpredictable style and fiery rhetoric, would also cause bilateral trade to shrink if he became president, a majority of respondents said.
Portraying Japan as a free-rider on security, Trump has suggested that the U.S. ally might need nuclear weapons to ease U.S. financial commitment to its defense - anathema to the only country ever attacked by atomic bombs.
Trump has also said he might withdraw U.S. troops from Japan unless it pays more to feed and house the 50,000 it hosts, and he has accused Japan of stealing U.S. jobs.
His comments have only fueled simmering worries amongst some Japanese in recent years about whether Washington would defend Tokyo in a crisis under their alliance - the lynchpin of Japan’s security policy for decades.
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