Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi says the US-Japan alliance would collapse if Tokyo did not respond to an attack on US forces during a Taiwan crisis.
TOKYO: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (pic) has stated the alliance between Japan and the United States would collapse if Japan failed to act during an attack on US forces in a Taiwan conflict.
She detailed the Japanese response to a hypothetical Taiwan crisis during a television programme.
Takaichi appeared to dial back on her November remarks that suggested Tokyo could intervene militarily during a potential attack on the island.
Those earlier comments provoked the ire of Beijing, which regards the democratic island as its own territory.
Asked about her November statements, Takaichi pointed out that Japan and the US might jointly conduct an evacuation operation in a conflict.
“If the US military, acting jointly with Japan, comes under attack and Japan does nothing and runs home, the Japan-US alliance will collapse,” she said on the TV Asahi programme.
She added that both nations would have to rescue Japanese and American citizens in Taiwan.
“If something serious happens there, we would have to go to rescue the Japanese and American citizens in Taiwan,” the prime minister said.
“In that situation, there may be cases where Japan and the US take joint action.”
Takaichi emphasised that any response would be “strictly within the bounds of the law.”
Following her comments in November, China discouraged its nationals from travelling to Japan.
Beijing cited deteriorating public security and criminal acts against Chinese nationals in the country.
Reports also indicate China is choking off exports to Japan of crucial rare-earth products.
