US demands answers from Japan, Australia on Taiwan conflict plans — FT
US efforts spark disappointment in Japan and Australia (Photo: Getty Images)
The US is demanding that Japan and Australia explain what actions they would take in the event of a US-China war over Taiwan, according to the Financial Times.
The report says the Pentagon is pressuring Japan and Australia to clearly outline the roles they would play if the US and China go to war over Taiwan. However, these efforts have disappointed two of Washington’s most important allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to five sources, in recent months, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby has raised this issue during meetings with officials from Japan’s and Australia’s defense ministries.
This move marks Colby’s latest attempt to persuade US allies in the region to strengthen deterrence and prepare for a potential war over Taiwan.
Following the post, Colby wrote on the social media platform X that the Pentagon is implementing US President Donald Trump’s program aimed at restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength.
He added that this effort includes calling on allies to increase defense spending and step up other efforts related to our collective defense.
A Pentagon representative stated that a live topic in discussions with allies has been the intensification and acceleration of efforts to strengthen deterrence in a balanced and fair manner.
The talks include attempts to persuade allies to increase their defense spending amid growing concern over China’s threat to Taiwan.
At the same time, the request to make commitments specifically related to a potential war over the island is a new demand from the US.
"Concrete operational planning and exercises that have direct application to a Taiwan contingency are moving forward with Japan and Australia. But this request caught Tokyo and Canberra by surprise because the US itself does not give a blank cheque guarantee to Taiwan," a source said.
Another source reported that representatives from Japan, Australia, and other US allies expressed collective surprise.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense stated that it is difficult to answer a hypothetical question about an ‘emergency in Taiwan.
They also noted that any response would be carried out on an individual and case-by-case basis, under the constitution, international law, as well as domestic laws and regulations.
