Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington Friday. The meeting between Trump and one of the United States' strongest allies in the Indo-Pacific region is expected to focus around economic and security issues along the theme of "a free and open Ind-Pacific" against tightening military control by China.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba didn’t skimp on the legwork as he prepared for his meeting with President Donald Trump.

Trump has long felt that Japan and other wealthy allies take advantage of the U.S., racking up big trade surpluses, while paying too little for the cost of American military protection.