Chinese Premier Li Qiang has sent a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposing a united response to the recent tariff measures imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Japan's Kyodo news agency.

The letter, delivered through the Chinese embassy in Japan, called for both nations to "fight protectionism together," Kyodo reported on Tuesday, citing multiple Japanese government officials as sources for this information.

When contacted about the matter, the foreign ministries of both China and Japan did not provide immediate comments in response to requests for verification of the report.

This communication comes just one day after Beijing cautioned countries against making broader economic agreements with the United States that might disadvantage China. This warning represents an escalation in the ongoing trade conflict between the world's two largest economies.

Japan, a close ally of the United States, was among dozens of countries affected by Trump's wide-ranging tariffs announced earlier this month. Japanese officials have already begun negotiations with the U.S. in an attempt to find a solution to the issue.

President Trump plans to personally attend trade talks with Japanese officials in Washington on Wednesday, where Japan faces 24% levies on exports to the U.S. The tariffs are currently paused for 90 days, though a 10% universal rate and 25% duty on cars remain active.

The relationship between China and Japan has faced difficulties in recent years due to various points of disagreement, including territorial disputes and trade-related tensions.

The timing of this outreach suggests China may be looking to form alliances with other affected nations as the global trade landscape continues to shift following the recent U.S. policy changes.