The administration of US President Donald Trump is stepping up pressure on key allies in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Japan and Australia, demanding clear commitments on their role in the event of a war between the US and China over Taiwan, the Financial Times reports, citing informed sources.
“US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has been actively raising this issue in recent months at meetings with representatives of the Japanese and Australian defense ministries. According to sources, this has surprised allies, as the US itself does not provide Taiwan with security guarantees,” the report said.
“Specific operational planning and exercises that are directly applicable to an unforeseen situation in Taiwan are being advanced with Japan and Australia,” one of the publication’s sources said.
However, the Japanese Ministry of Defense noted that the issue of an emergency situation in Taiwan is hypothetical and that responses to it should be based on national and international law. The Australian Embassy in the US declined to comment.
According to the publication, Colby’s efforts are part of Trump’s agenda to “restore deterrence and achieve peace through strength,” which includes calls for allies to increase defense spending.
It is also noted that Colby advocates revising the AUKUS security agreement, which allows Australia to acquire nuclear submarines, and calls on European allies to reduce their military presence in the Indo-Pacific region and focus on the Euro-Atlantic direction.
