U.S. should abandon ambiguity on Taiwan defense: Japan's Abe

Former prime minister floats possibility of hosting American nuclear weapons

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Japanese former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the U.S. should abandon its ambiguous stance on how it would react to an attack on Taiwan. © Reuters

KEN MORIYASU, Nikkei staff writer

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.

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