Sankei’s Washington-based columnist Komori took up a speech on China delivered by Vice President Pence last week, noting that the address showed once again that the Trump administration is determined to maintain a hard line toward Beijing. The reporter claimed that Washington’s hawkish approach marks a sharp contrast to the Abe administration’s policy of promoting dialogue with the communist regime. Komori referred to a recent policy paper published by the Brookings Institution warning that a rift between Tokyo and Washington over China policy could eventually undermine the overall bilateral security alliance. The columnist urged the Abe administration to readjust its China policy quickly in order to take a concerted approach with the Trump administration.