TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said on Monday that if a crisis were to occur in Taiwan and US forces were attacked, Japan would join evacuation efforts, warning that inaction would undermine the vital security alliance between Tokyo and Washington.
Appearing on a TV Asahi program, Takaichi discussed the possibility of a joint operation to evacuate Japanese citizens from Taiwan, per Nikkei Asia. “If Japan did nothing and simply fled while the US military was being attacked, the Japan-US alliance would collapse," she said.
Takaichi said, “In the event of an emergency, we would need to go and rescue Japanese and American citizens in Taiwan.” She added, “We would make a comprehensive judgment of what is happening there and respond within the scope of current laws.”
During a session of Japan’s House of Representatives on Nov. 7, Takaichi said Chinese military actions against Taiwan, such as a naval blockade, could qualify as a “situation threatening Japan’s survival.” She stressed Tokyo’s responsibility to evacuate its citizens in such a scenario, adding, “We must be prepared for a worst-case scenario.”
China condemned Takaichi’s remarks, triggering an ongoing diplomatic dispute between Tokyo and Beijing. Beijing’s punitive measures have included travel warnings, reduced flights, increased coast guard patrols near the Diaoyutai Islands, a renewed ban on Japanese seafood imports, canceled performances by Japanese entertainers, and large-scale naval drills.
Amid continued pressure from China to retract her comments, Takaichi said in December that Tokyo’s position on Taiwan has remained unchanged since 1972, per Bloomberg. She also said her remarks were hypothetical and indicated she would avoid making similar statements in parliament, per Reuters.
