U.S. President Donald Trump asked Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi avoid further escalation in a dispute with China during a call this week, sources with knowledge of the matter said, as he aims to keep a fragile trade war truce with Beijing.

Takaichi touched off the biggest diplomatic dispute with Beijing in years with comments in parliament this month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger Japanese military action, inciting fury in Beijing.

In Tuesday¡¯s call with Takaichi, Trump said he didn¡¯t want to see any further escalation, said the two Japanese government sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.