The US Remains Silent in the China-Japan Standoff

US President Trump, an ally of Japan, has remained silent regarding China’s deterrent actions against Japan. Ignoring China’s probing could increase the risk of destabilizing the East Asian order.

Japan’s diplomatic efforts to unite its allies outside the US are also facing a test.

The White House and State Department did not respond to a request for comment from the Nikkei on December 7 regarding the incident on December 6 in which Chinese fighter jets illuminated the radar of Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft.

The US is deliberately distancing itself from the China-Japan standoff stemming from the Taiwan issue.

Among senior US officials, while Ambassador to Japan Glass criticized China, neither the president, vice president, nor cabinet members have publicly commented. Only the State Department deputy spokesperson issued a statement on November 20 (formerly Twitter) stating that the US commitment to Japan’s defense remains unchanged.