US stresses backing for Japan, Korea and Taiwan ahead of Trump-Xi summit

NEW YORK — The United States on Monday reiterated its commitment to the defense of key Asian allies Japan and South Korea, and the three nations expressed support for Taiwan ahead of a summit this week between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Analysts say the U.S. allies are anxious that Trump may offer concessions to Xi including over Taiwan and trade in return for an economic win with Beijing when he hosts Xi at the White House in Washington on Thursday. Officials say both Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung are keen to see the U.S. president during the UN General Assembly in New York, where all three are scheduled to speak on Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun and Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in New York on Monday. They issued a joint statement vowing, in apparent reference to China, to stand firm "against economic coercion and non-market policies and practices" and "arbitrary export restrictions that disrupt supply chains." They also welcomed