Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the US military, has asked Japan and Australia to clearly say what they would do if a war breaks out between the US and China over Taiwan. This news came out recently and has surprised many people.

Why is this question being asked?

Elbridge Colby, who is an important official in the US Department of Defense, has been talking to defence leaders in Japan and Australia about this. He wants to know what roles these countries would play if there were a fight with China over Taiwan.

Colby has worked in the defence department before too. During President Donald Trump's first term, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development. He is known for saying that the US should focus more on competing with China and should not keep its military attention mainly in the Middle East or Europe anymore.

Why are Japan and Australia surprised?

The US asking Japan and Australia about their roles in such a war caught both countries by surprise. This is because the US itself has never promised Taiwan that it would fight for them under any condition. The US sells weapons to Taiwan and supports it politically, but it does not have an official agreement to protect Taiwan if China attacks.

According to people who know about these recent talks, Japanese and Australian officials were not expecting this question from the US. They were surprised because the US has always kept its position slightly unclear when it comes to Taiwan. It supports Taiwan but does not give a blank cheque guarantee, meaning it does not promise to defend Taiwan no matter what.

What is the background of this situation?

Taiwan is an island near China. China says that Taiwan is part of its country and must come under its rule someday, even if by force. Taiwan, on the other hand, sees itself as an independent place with its government, laws, army, and society. This disagreement has been going on for many decades.

In the past few years, China has become more aggressive in showing that it controls Taiwan. Chinese fighter jets and warships often go near Taiwan to show their power. They have even done military exercises near Taiwan, which makes people worried that China might attack someday.

Because of this, the US has increased its support for Taiwan. It sells weapons to Taiwan to help it defend itself. However, since the US does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan (it only recognises China as a country), the situation is complicated.

What does Elbridge Colby think?

Colby believes that the US military should prepare itself to deal with China as its main competitor. He thinks the US should not spend so much energy in areas like the Middle East or Europe anymore and should instead focus on Asia, especially China.
That is why he has been asking Japan and Australia what they would do if China attacked Taiwan. The US wants to make sure that its allies are ready to help if any conflict happens. But so far, Japan and Australia have not clearly said what actions they would take.

Why is Taiwan important to the world?

Taiwan is very important for global trade and technology. It produces a large number of semiconductors, which are tiny chips needed in phones, computers, cars, and almost every modern electronic device. If there is a war in Taiwan, it will affect the whole world because the supply of these chips will be stopped.
Also, Taiwan is located at a very strategic place in Asia. Many ships carrying oil, goods, and food pass through the seas near Taiwan. If there is a war there, global trade will suffer badly.

How is China reacting to this situation?

China continues to say that Taiwan belongs to it. It does not like other countries talking to Taiwan as if it were an independent nation. Whenever the US or its allies sell weapons to Taiwan or send their politicians there, China becomes angry and often shows its military power in response.

What happens next?

For now, Japan and Australia are thinking about how they should respond to the Pentagon’s question. They are close allies of the US and also have strong trade ties with China. This makes the situation sensitive for them.

The US wants to prepare in advance in case a fight happens. It is asking its allies what they would do so that everyone knows their role and there is no confusion during a crisis. However, this question has made both Japan and Australia feel worried because they do not want to openly take a side that could harm their relations with China.

• The Pentagon asked Japan and Australia what they would do if war broke out with China over Taiwan.
• The question was raised by Elbridge Colby, a senior US defence official.
• Japan and Australia were surprised because the US itself has not promised to defend Taiwan unconditionally.
• Taiwan is under pressure from China, which claims it as part of its country.
• The US supports Taiwan with weapons but has no formal defence agreement with it.
• The situation remains tense as countries prepare for any possible conflict in the future.