Pentagon Pushes Japan, Australia to Outline Taiwan Conflict Response
(MENAFN) The Pentagon is intensifying efforts to prompt Japan and Australia—two vital US allies in the Indo-Pacific—to clearly outline their responses in a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, according to a media report on Sunday.
China claims Taiwan as its own under the One-China policy and insists on eventual reunification with the island. Although the US formally recognizes Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan, it continues to provide the self-governing territory with military support.
For several months, US Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby has urged military officials from Japan and Australia to prepare for a possible confrontation, media disclosed, citing unnamed sources.
“Concrete operational planning and exercises that have direct application to a Taiwan contingency are moving forward with Japan and Australia,” one source told the outlet. “But this request caught Tokyo and Canberra by surprise because the US itself does not give a blank check guarantee to Taiwan.”
Colby emphasized that the Pentagon is aligned with former President Donald Trump’s policy of “restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength.” Nonetheless, he acknowledged on X this past Saturday that “some among [Washington’s] allies might not welcome frank conversations.”
Australian Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy declined to “engage in hypotheticals” when questioned about US pressure related to China. He stressed that Canberra retains “the sole power to commit Australia to war or to allow our territory to be used for a conflict,” speaking with media on Sunday.
Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have escalated since the election of pro-independence President Lai Ching-te last year. Trump reignited a trade war with China after taking office, though recent tensions eased somewhat following a rare-earths agreement between Washington and Beijing last month.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
