
U.S. should abandon ambiguity on Taiwan defense: Japan’s Abe
BY KEN MORIYASU
27 FEBRUARY 2022
TOKYO — Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that it is time for the U.S. to make clear that it would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion and ditch its longstanding strategic ambiguity.
“The U.S. takes a strategy of ambiguity, meaning it may or may not intervene militarily if Taiwan is attacked,” Abe said on a Fuji TV morning talk show. “By showing it may intervene, it keeps China in check, but by leaving the possibility that it may not intervene, it makes sure that the [Taiwanese] forces for independence do not run out of control,” he said.
“It is time to abandon this ambiguity strategy. The people of Taiwan share our universal values, so I think the U.S. should firmly abandon its ambiguity,” he said.