Japan denies change in stance on Taiwan threat

Japan denies change in stance on Taiwan threat
Japan says it has not changed the way it determines what counts as an “existential threat,” rejecting a recent assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies that suggested a major shift in Tokyo’s position on Taiwan.

At a press briefing, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan’s policy remains unchanged and that the government evaluates such situations using all available information.

“The government’s position of judging an existential crisis situation with all the information it gathers is consistent with the past,” Kihara said. 

“The assessment that there has been a major shift is not accurate.”
 

The clarification came after U.S. intelligence agencies released an annual threat report on Wednesday. 

The report suggested that comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated a stronger stance on Taiwan than previous Japanese leaders had taken.
 

Takaichi recently said that if China were to launch a military attack on Taiwan, it could lead to a Japanese military response. 

U.S. analysts viewed the remark as a notable change in Japan’s tone regarding a potential conflict around Taiwan.
 

China reacted strongly to the statement. Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan and moved to restrict some exports.
 

Despite the criticism, Takaichi has repeatedly said that her remarks do not represent a new policy and are in line with Japan’s long-standing security approach.