U.S. State Department reaffirms Japan alliance, Taiwan Strait stability

Washington, Nov. 20 (CNA) The United States Department of State has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance and to maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait following several economic reprisals by Beijing against Tokyo for its support of Taiwan.

Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday that the U.S. remains unwavering in its support for Japan's defense, calling the alliance "the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific."

"We firmly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, including through force or coercion, in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, or South China Sea," Pigott said.

His remarks were the first proactive reaction by the State Department to China's angry condemnation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comment on Nov. 7 that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute "a situation threatening Japan's survival," potentially triggering a military response.

Since then, China has imposed a series of measures aimed at hurting Japan's economy, including advisories against travel and study in the country and the suspension of resuming imports of Japanese seafood.

Over the past week, CNA had twice asked the State Department for comment, but in both cases it did not mention the U.S.-Japan alliance or Japan's defense.

Instead, it reiterated that the U.S. opposes unilateral attempts to change the status quo, supports cross-strait dialogue, and that differences are resolved peacefully in a manner acceptable to people on both sides and free from coercion.

Meanwhile, Takaichi is thought to be the first Japanese leader in decades to publicly suggest that a Taiwan Strait crisis could lead to Japan's military involvement.

Earlier on Thursday, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) responded to China's reported suspension of Japanese seafood imports by sharing photos on social media of himself enjoying miso soup and sushi made with seafood from Kagoshima and Hokkaido.