Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Search for 4 missing soldiers in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.
Israeli media platform: In the second incident, two injured people were transported from Gaza, and we are awaiting the authorities to notify the families to provide additional details shortly
Israeli media platform: 3 security incidents reported in Gaza
Israeli media platform: A serious incident in Gaza... A dead soldier was evacuated under fire... and an additional evacuation helicopter was dispatched
Israeli media outlet: Fierce battles ongoing between our forces and "militants" in the Gaza Strip
Israeli media platform: Confrontations ongoing across the Gaza Strip, heavy fighting reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis
Abu Obeida: War criminal Netanyahu and his Nazi ministers have deliberately set their minds on reducing the number of living enemy captives by half
Abu Obeidah: Our freedom fighters are in a state of alert, readiness, and high morale; ready to demonstrate unique exemplars of heroism and bravery, and they will teach the invaders harsh lessons
Abu Obeida: The enemy’s army will pay the price with the blood of its soldiers, and the chances of capturing more soldiers will increase, God willing
Military spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida: The enemy’s criminal plans to occupy Gaza will be a disaster for its political and military leadership

US demands allies' plans in event of Taiwan war erupting

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Financial Times
  • 12 Jul 2025 19:26
4 Min Read

The Pentagon urges Japan and Australia to clarify their role in a potential US-China war over Taiwan amid rising regional tensions.

Listen
  • x
  • Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, inspects a live-fire shooting training in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, Thursday, July 10, 2025 (AP)
    Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, inspects a live-fire shooting training in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, on Thursday, July 10, 2025 (AP)

The Pentagon has been urging Japan and Australia to specify how they would respond in the event of a US-China war over Taiwan, a move that has caused growing frustration among Washington’s two key allies in the Indo-Pacific region, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.

Elbridge Colby, serving as undersecretary of defense for policy, has, in recent months, raised the issue during meetings with Japanese and Australian defense officials, according to five sources familiar with the matter. This comes as part of his broader effort to persuade Indo-Pacific allies to strengthen deterrence and prepare for a possible war over Taiwan.

A US defense official declined to comment on the Taiwan-related request but emphasized that the central focus of Colby’s talks with allies was to step up and speed up efforts to reinforce deterrence in a manner that is both "balanced" and "fair". The official emphasized that the Pentagon’s efforts were aimed at avoiding war by building a strong deterrent shield.

“That requires strength — but it is a simple fact that our allies must also do their part,” the defense official told FT, adding, “We do not seek war. Nor do we seek to dominate China itself. What we are doing is ensuring the United States and its allies have the military strength to underwrite diplomacy and guarantee peace.”

Defense spending once again on the agenda

The discussions have included attempts to convince allies to increase defense spending as worries grow over China’s alleged threat to Taiwan, while the push for explicit commitments tied to a potential war over the island marks a new element in Washington’s demands.

Related News

Pezeshkian: Internal unity key response to 'snapback' mechanism

US threats to Venezuela undermine peace, stability: Envoy - Exclusive

“Concrete operational planning and exercises that have direct application to a Taiwan contingency are moving forward with Japan and Australia,” one person told Financial Times, noting that "this request caught Tokyo and Canberra by surprise because the US itself does not give a blank cheque guarantee to Taiwan.”

Zack Cooper, an Asia expert at the American Enterprise Institute, told the Financial Times that securing clear commitments from allies regarding their role in a war over Taiwan is challenging, since they lack clarity about both the circumstances of such a scenario and how the US itself would respond.

“President Trump has not committed to defend Taiwan, so it is unrealistic for the US to insist on clear commitments from others," he emphasized.

A question that raised eyebrows

The effort has targeted defense officials in Japan and Australia rather than senior political leadership, and according to a second FT source, the push prompted a “collective raising of eyebrows” among representatives from Japan, Australia, and other US allies.

Japan’s Defense Ministry stated that it was “difficult to answer the hypothetical question of a Taiwan emergency,” adding that any response would “be implemented on an individual and specific basis in accordance with the constitution, international law, and domestic laws and regulations." The Australian embassy did not comment.

The discussion around Taiwan planning is unfolding as Tokyo and Canberra face growing pressure from Trump to increase defense spending, a development that Colby’s allies view as especially critical in light of what they perceive as an escalating threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific region.

The official expressed confidence that Japan and Australia would accelerate their defense spending at a faster pace than their counterparts in Europe.

The official mentioned that the Pentagon had obtained "positive" signals regarding increased spending from Japan and Australia but emphasized that achieving concrete outcomes remained essential for all parties involved.

  • United States
  • Elbridge Colby
  • Japan
  • Taiwan
  • Indo-Pacific Region
  • Australia

Most Read

Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks (Photo by Mahdi Rtail)

Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks

  • Politics
  • 26 Aug 2025
Although it does seem likely they will launch some kind of operation in northern Gaza, one which will accelerate its mass murder of civilians, but will fail to achieve its stated objectives. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Here is why the Israeli occupation of Gaza won’t work

  • Opinion
  • 26 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Global Sumud flotilla sets sail to break blockade on Gaza
Palestine

Global Sumud flotilla, largest yet, to set sail bound for Gaza

A Palestinian flag flies next to a Slovenian, center, and a European Union flag, right, at the government building in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Thursday, May 30, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Slovenia mulls entry ban for Israeli PM Netanyahu

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint news conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Turkey severs 'Israel' trade ties, closes airspace to Israeli aircraft

Maduro vows Venezuela is 'impenetrable' as US warships mear Caribbean
Latin America

Maduro vows Venezuela is 'impenetrable' as US warships near Caribbean

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS