On the next stop of his Asian tour, Trump will meet the new Japanese Prime Minister and deliver a speech to American forces

TOKYO (AP) — President Donald Trump begins one of the busiest days of his Asia tour Tuesday, meeting with Japan’s new prime minister, speaking to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier and mingling with business leaders.

Although Trump is visiting one of America’s most steadfast allies in Asia, there is no shortage of uncertainty while he is there. Sanae Takaishi, who became the country’s first female prime minister just days ago, must strengthen her relationship with Trump while defending her country’s economic interests. Trump is trying to raise $550 billion in Japanese investments as part of a trade deal that would reduce US tariffs.

Takaichi is preparing a charm offensive, including the potential purchase of Ford F-150 trucks. Trump has often complained that Japan does not buy American cars, which are often too wide to be practical on narrow Japanese streets.

Although Trump has centered his foreign policy toward Asia around tariffs and trade, he is also speaking aboard the USS George Washington, which is docked at a U.S. naval base near Tokyo.

Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday, where he met the emperor for a ceremonial visit. He previously visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he participated in the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The rally was an opportunity for Trump to celebrate an expanded ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, which clashed along their disputed border earlier this year. Trump had pressured them to stop fighting by threatening to block trade agreements.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaishi speaks during the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit, as part of the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photography by Chalini Thirasuba/Pool via Reuters

There have also been signs that tensions between the US and China are calming ahead of a scheduled meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which is expected to take place in South Korea later this week. Lead negotiators from each country said a trade agreement had been reached, which could prevent a potentially damaging confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.

Details were scarce, and it was not clear to what extent any agreement would resolve long-standing issues, or whether it would return the relationship to the status quo before the recent confrontations. China has restructured its exports of rare earth elements critical to high-tech manufacturing, and Trump has responded by threatening tariffs that even he admits are unsustainable.

Trump is scheduled to leave on Wednesday for South Korea, which is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

Megerian reported from Seoul.