U.S. demands clarity from Japan, Australia on their role in potential war over Taiwan, FT reports

The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. Elbridge Colby, the U.S. under-secretary of defense for policy, has been pushing the matter during recent talks with defense officials of both countries, the report said, citing people familiar with the discussions. According to the newspaper, the reported request caught both Tokyo and Canberra off guard, as the U.S. itself does not offer a blank check guarantee to defend Taiwan.