Japan’s Taiwan Stance Exposes Cracks in China-Japan Relations Amid Rising Regional Threats

Less than a month into her tenure, Japan's conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has disrupted the fragile balance in East Asia by openly warning that a Chinese military move against Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response. This unprecedented declaration signals a significant shift from previous Japanese leaders who, while concerned about China’s rise, refrained from such explicit commitments. Why Does Japan’s New Posture Matter to America and Regional Security? China insists Taiwan is its sovereign territory and brands any foreign involvement as crossing an inviolable “red line.” Yet, Japan—America’s critical ally in the Indo-Pacific—now appears willing to militarily counter...