US reaffirms ‘unshakeable’ support for Japan as China escalates tensions over Taiwan

The United States on Friday reaffirmed its strong support for Japan, describing its commitment to the bilateral alliance as “unshakeable” after China sharply criticised Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan. Beijing has increased its rhetoric against Tokyo, vigorously protesting Takaichi’s 7 November remarks that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could pose a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially allowing it to exercise its right to collective self-defence. Her statement in parliament indicated how Japanese defence forces might act in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

US Ambassador to Japan George Glass, following discussions with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, denounced China’s response as “provocative”. According to Kyodo, he said China’s actions were “very unhelpful and undermine regional stability”, highlighting Beijing’s ban on aquatic imports from Japan as “a classic case of Chinese economic coercion”. Glass added that Washington remained steadfast in its commitment to Japan’s defence, including the Senkaku Islands.

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The uninhabited islets in the East China Sea are administered by Japan but claimed by China, which refers to them as Diaoyu and has increased patrols around them. “We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to alter or affect the status quo,” he said.

Beijing demands retraction as tensions extend to trade and defence

China has insisted that Takaichi retract her statement to restore stable relations, but she refused to do so on Friday. Considered a China hawk, she maintained that Japan had been “consistent” on Taiwan while noting her desire for improved ties with Beijing. Before leaving for the G20 summit in South Africa, she said, “I myself have repeatedly stated this position in my responses. The government’s stance remains consistent”, the South China Morning Post reported.

Beijing has introduced several countermeasures, including reinstating its recently lifted suspension of seafood imports from Japan and issuing a travel alert. As China remains the largest source of tourists to Japan, with about 7.4 million trips this year, the advisory has resulted in widespread cancellations by Chinese travellers. China also regards Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory and is determined to integrate it with the mainland.

On Friday, China strongly objected to Japan’s export of Patriot air-defence interceptor missiles to the United States, marking the first such shipment of advanced weapons since Japan relaxed its arms export rules. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said post-WWII treaties obligated Japan, as a defeated country, to be “completely disarmed” and prohibited from maintaining industries capable of enabling rearmament. She noted that Japan had eased restrictions, increased its defence budget for 13 consecutive years, and adopted new security laws allowing the exercise of the right to collective self-defence. These developments, she said, showed Japan was moving away from an exclusively defence-oriented stance and “re-arming” itself at pace.

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Mao warned that any attempt by Japan to return to militarism, abandon its commitment to peaceful development, or disrupt the post-war international order would not be accepted. “The Chinese people will not allow it, and the international community will not allow it. Such attempts will only end in failure,” she said.