Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan, including a naval blockade, could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” that would justify Japan’s Self-Defense Forces providing support under its right of collective self-defense. Her remarks mark one of the strongest statements by a Japanese leader on a potential Taiwan conflict.
Speaking at a parliamentary budget committee session on November 7, Takaichi said Japan would have to make a “comprehensive assessment” of the situation before taking action. She noted that while a line of Chinese civilian ships encircling Taiwan would not meet that threshold, a full-scale blockade accompanied by military combat would. In such a case, Japan would be compelled to assist its allies, potentially including the United States, under its 2015 security legislation.
The 2015 laws, introduced under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, allow Japan to exercise limited collective self-defense if an attack on another country poses an existential threat to Japan’s security. Takaichi, who has long identified herself as Abe’s political successor, has previously argued that any military aggression toward Taiwan would effectively threaten Japan as well.
Her comments signal a more assertive tone in Japan’s approach to regional security, even as past administrations avoided explicit references to Taiwan to prevent friction with Beijing. While Takaichi’s position aligns with conservative elements in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, officials acknowledged that her remarks went beyond the Foreign Ministry’s prepared notes. Analysts say her statement underscores Japan’s growing alignment with U.S. security priorities amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait.