TOKYO -- New Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga entered the world of top-level diplomacy in an atmosphere of deep uncertainty, exemplified by U.S. President Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis last week.
A particular moment on Sept. 25, during his initial round of calls with fellow leaders, was especially enlightening. That day, a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was slipped into the schedule before Suga was set to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The talk with Xi started at 9 p.m., while the Modi call began just after 4:30 p.m.
