Pentagon pressuring Japan, Australia to clarify stance on China
(MENAFN) The Pentagon is urging key Indo-Pacific allies Japan and Australia to clarify their positions in the event of a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, according to a report by the Financial Times on Sunday.
China considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory under the One-China principle and insists on eventual reunification. While the US officially recognizes Beijing’s claim, it continues to supply weapons to Taipei.
The Financial Times reported, citing anonymous sources, that US Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby has been pressing Japanese and Australian military officials for months to prepare for the possibility of war. One source noted that “concrete operational planning and exercises directly related to a Taiwan contingency are moving forward with Japan and Australia.” However, both Tokyo and Canberra were reportedly surprised by the pressure, given that Washington itself does not offer Taiwan an unconditional security guarantee.
Colby stated that the Pentagon is committed to advancing President Donald Trump’s strategy of “restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength,” though he acknowledged that some US allies may not welcome such “frank conversations.”
When asked about US pressure regarding China, Australia’s Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy declined to engage in “hypotheticals,” stressing that only Canberra can decide whether to commit Australia to war or permit the use of its territory for military conflict.
Tensions over Taiwan have escalated since the election of pro-independence President Lai Ching-te last year. Meanwhile, although Trump reignited a trade war with China upon taking office, tensions eased somewhat following a recent US-China deal on rare earth minerals.
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