As the U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran continue — and threaten to draw reluctant NATO allies deeper into a widening Middle East conflict — a pressing question is echoing across the Indo-Pacific: With Washington increasingly consumed by military and economic burdens elsewhere, who is safeguarding Taiwan?

In this evolving strategic landscape, the answer is no longer the United States alone, but increasingly Japan — working in concert with Washington and anchored in the longstanding U.S.-Japan security alliance.

At the same time, Japan is emerging as a critical bridge between Euro-Atlantic security and the Indo-Pacific. Industrial and technological innovation now directly underpins regional deterrence. By connecting Japanese firms to NATO-linked networks, Tokyo is strengthening its own defense-industrial base while indirectly reinforcing Taiwan’s security.

© The Japan Times