Alliance with US would ‘collapse’ if Japan fled a Taiwan crisis: Takaichi

Taiwan tensions

Japanese PM refers to possibility of joint operation to evacuate citizens

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at an event in Tokyo on Jan. 26. (Photo by Sae Kamae)

RYO NAKAMURA

January 27, 2026 02:46 JST

TOKYO — Failing to respond if American forces came under attack in a Taiwan crisis would threaten Japan’s critical security alliance with the U.S., Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday.