TOKYO, March 19 (Reuters) – Japan has not changed its stance on how to determine threats and rejects U.S. intelligence agencies’ assessment of a “significant shift” in its stance toward Taiwan, the government’s top spokesman said on Friday.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to a military response from Japan were contrary to those of previous Japanese leaders, the agencies said in their annual threat report on Wednesday.
“The government’s stance of using all the information collected to determine the existence of a crisis situation is consistent with the past,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a news conference.
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“Assessments that a significant shift has occurred are inaccurate.”
China, which considers Taiwan its own territory, responded strongly to Takaichi’s comments, urging its people not to travel to Japan and halting some exports.
Takaichi has also repeatedly insisted that her stance is consistent with Japan’s long-term policy.
(Reporting by Kim Changlan; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)