Society

Japan's No. 2 raises possibility of joining US in defending Taiwan

Jul 06 (Nikkei) - TOKYO -- If China invades Taiwan, Tokyo may interpret the move as a "threat to Japan's survival" and deploy the Self-Defense Forces to exercise collective self-defense, Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said Monday.

"If a major incident happened [in Taiwan], it would not be strange at all if it touches on a situation threatening survival," Aso said during a speech in Tokyo. "If that is the case, Japan and the U.S. must defend Taiwan together."

Aso, who also serves as finance minister, is one of four cabinet members who sit on Japan's National Security Council.

Japan's deputy prime minister noted that "the situation over Taiwan is becoming extremely intense," referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping's comments about the self-ruled island during a speech last week to commemorate the Communist Party's 100-year anniversary.

"Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment" of the party, Xi said Thursday.

Given Japan's constitutional restrictions on the use of its armed forces, Tokyo is authorized to mobilize the SDF only for national defense. Previously, the only scenario in which the SDF could use force involved an "armed attack situation," such as an organized and premeditated attack against Japan's territorial land, sea or airspace.

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