The prospect that President Biden is ready to block a merger between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel on national security grounds is stirring discontent in Tokyo, where some officials view the action as casting Japan, a key U.S. ally, as a threat.
The political storm risks straining relations at a time when Tokyo and Washington are working to deepen ties to counterbalance China's growing economic and military influence in Asia.
If American politicians move to scuttle a close ally's planned merger, Japan may move to take more of a back seat, letting the U.S. take the lead and following only when it is clear on what the American temperature of the day is.
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