The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play If the United States and China went to war for Taiwan, the Financial Times reported Saturday.
Elbridge Colby, Undersecretary of Defense of the United States, has insisted on this matter during recent conversations with defense responsible for both countriesaccording to the report, which cites familiar people with conversations.
According to the newspaper, The petition took both Tokyo and Canberra, since the United States does not offer a full guarantee to defend Taiwan.
Reuters could not verify the report. The US Department of Defense did not respond immediately to a request for comments.
The United States is Taiwan’s main arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties. Taiwan has faced growing military pressure from China, including several rounds of war games, since Beijing tries to assert its demands of sovereignty over the island. Taiwan rejects the Chinese claim of sovereignty.
Colby was Deputy Deputy Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Development of Forces during the first mandate of President Donald Trump. Colby is known to argue that the US army should prioritize competition with China and change its Middle East and Europe approach.
