Ex-Japan PM Aso to meet with Donald Trump on Tuesday

Japan has been trying to connect with people close to Trump ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election that could see the former president return to office and resurrect protectionist trade measures and other contentious policies that had threatened to strain relations between the allies. Japan's approach has been multifaceted and has involved sending emissaries in recent months to meet with Trump allies and potential policymakers at Trump-allied think tanks.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will meet Donald Trump on Tuesday, a senior Trump campaign official said, as the U.S. ally continues to ramp up engagement with the Republican presidential candidate. Japan has been trying to connect with people close to Trump ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election that could see the former president return to office and resurrect protectionist trade measures and other contentious policies that had threatened to strain relations between the allies.

Japan's approach has been multifaceted and has involved sending emissaries in recent months to meet with Trump allies and potential policymakers at Trump-allied think tanks. Sunao Takao, the interpreter for late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is among those who will be deployed to boost engagement with Trump's campaign, Reuters reported in March.

"Leaders from around the world know that with President Trump we had a safer, more peaceful world," Trump senior campaign adviser Brian Hughes said on Monday. "He is widely recognized as a leader who, with the support of the American people, kept our nation and allies safe, our enemies in check, and American workers protected from unfair globalist trade policies."

TV Tokyo reported earlier in the day that Aso was set to meet with Trump.

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