Takaichi Warns U.S.–Japan Alliance at Risk if Tokyo Stands Aside in a Taiwan Crisis

Overview

• On a live TV program, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the alliance could collapse if U.S. forces came under attack and Japan did nothing, stressing any response would stay within existing law.
• She distanced her November remarks from combat implications, framing potential action as evacuating Japanese and American nationals and noting there could be cases of joint operations with the United States.
• China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the latest comments, asserting Japan has no right to interfere in the Taiwan issue, as Beijing maintains retaliatory steps including export curbs, travel warnings, and flight cancellations.
• Reports describe tightened controls on rare-earth shipments and broader economic and cultural pushback from Beijing, underscoring a chill in China–Japan relations that has persisted since November.
• Campaigning for Japan’s Feb. 8 snap election is under way, and Takaichi’s stance—bounded by Japan’s collective self-defense and evacuation authorities—has drawn criticism at home and praise in Taiwan.