Japan, US could not stand by if China invaded Taiwan, ex-PM Shinzo Abe says

Abe said that any crisis with Taipei would draw in Tokyo and Washington, and President Xi ‘should never have a misunderstanding in recognising this’

An armed invasion of Taiwan would be a grave danger to Japan, he added

Reading Time:2 minutes

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 11:03am, 1 Dec 2021Updated: 11:47am, 1 Dec 2021

Japan and the United States could not stand by if China attacked Taiwan, and Beijing needs to understand this, former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday.

Tensions over Taiwan have risen as President Xi Jinping seeks to assert China’s sovereignty claims against the democratically ruled island. Taiwan’s government says it wants peace, but will defend itself if needed.

Speaking virtually to a forum organised by Taiwanese think tank the Institute for National Policy Research, Abe noted the Senkaku Islands – which China calls the Diaoyu Islands – Sakishima Islands and Yonaguni Island are a mere 100km or so away from Taiwan.

An armed invasion of Taiwan would be a grave danger to Japan, he added.

“A Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-US alliance. People in Beijing, President Xi Jinping in particular, should never have a misunderstanding in recognising this,” Abe said.

Japan is host to major American military bases, including on the southern island of Okinawa, a short flight from Taiwan, which would be crucial for any US support during a Chinese attack.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x