The Japanese government is seeking clarity after President Donald Trump referred to China as an American ally during World War II at a White House ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump made the remark on September 24 while welcoming Xi. He said shared interests had made the two nations “allies in World War II” and praised the Flying Tigers, the American volunteer group that fought Japanese forces. At the state dinner that night, Xi said the United States and China had stood “shoulder to shoulder” against Japanese militarist aggression.

The comments caused confusion in Tokyo. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering calling Trump for a direct briefing on the summit, according to Japanese media reports.

Takaichi declined to comment on exchanges between other countries. She stressed that Japan and the United States reconciled after the war and are now allies “with very strong bonds” built on mutual trust.

Historians note the wartime ally was the Republic of China led by Chiang Kai-shek, not the People’s Republic of China, which was founded in 1949. Japan remains a formal US treaty ally, and its relations with China are tense.