US seeks clarity from allies on role in potential war over Taiwan
The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play if the US and China went to war over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. Elbridge Colby, the US under-secretary of defence for policy, has been pushing the matter during recent talks with defence 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 US itself does not offer a blank cheque guarantee to defend Taiwan.
Colby said in an X post that the department of defence is focused on implementing the president's 'America First' common sense agenda of restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength, which 'includes by urging allies to step up their defence spending and other efforts related to our collective defence.'
The US is Taiwan's most important arms supplier, despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties.
REUTERS
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Donald Trump, left, looks on as Tulsi Gabbard speaks at the National Guard Association of the United States' 146th General Conference, August 26, 2024, in Detroit, US. File Image/AP In Gabbard's words: 'The information we are releasing today clearly shows there was a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 committed by officials at the highest level of our government. Their goal was to subvert the will of the American people and enact what was essentially a years-long coup with the objective of trying to usurp the President from fulfilling the mandate bestowed upon him by the American people.' 'No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, to ensure nothing like this ever happens again. The American people's faith and trust in our democratic republic and therefore the future of our nation depends on it.' 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How Trump responded Trump has not only endorsed Gabbard's accusations but has taken visible steps to promote the message. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised a Fox News appearance by Harrison Fields, a Special Assistant in his administration, stating: 'Great job by young and talented Harrison Fields on Fox News. The Panel was fantastic on prosecuting Obama and the 'thugs' who have just been unequivocally exposed on highest level Election Fraud.' 'Congratulations to Tulsi Gabbard. Keep it coming!!!' In a separate post on X, Gabbard wrote: 'For months preceding the 2016 election, the Intelligence Community shared a consensus view: Russia lacked the intent and capability to hack US elections. But weeks after President Trump's historic 2016 victory defeating Hillary Clinton, everything changed.' 🧵 Americans will finally learn the truth about how in 2016, intelligence was politicized and weaponized by the most powerful people in the Obama Administration to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President @realDonaldTrump, subverting the… — DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump also posted a 45-second AI-generated video depicting Obama being arrested in the Oval Office. The video, which originally circulated on TikTok, was uploaded without commentary to Trump's Truth Social account. It began with real footage of Obama stating, 'especially the President is above the law,' followed by various prominent Democrats, including Joe Biden, repeating the phrase 'no one is above the law.' Donald J. Trump Truth Social 07.20.25 06:47 PM EST — Fan Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 20, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The scene then shifts to a fabricated depiction of Trump and Obama in the White House, where FBI agents enter and arrest Obama, who later appears in a jail cell wearing an orange jumpsuit. The soundtrack: 'YMCA' by the Village People, a staple at Trump rallies. Where the facts stand Despite the volume of material released by Gabbard and the forcefulness of her claims, multiple previous investigations — both bipartisan and nonpartisan — have offered a more nuanced interpretation of Russia's actions in 2016 and the Obama administration's response. Democratic lawmakers have called Gabbard's report inaccurate and misleading. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, labelled the allegations 'baseless.' 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STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Warner also pointed out that recent intelligence assessments under Gabbard's leadership still acknowledge that Russia continues to engage in influence operations targeting the United States. A March intelligence report concluded that: 'Moscow probably believes information operations efforts to influence U.S. elections are advantageous,' and that these activities are part of a long-term strategy to undermine confidence in American democracy. The big question: Can Trump legally prosecute Obama? The question of whether Trump can direct federal prosecutors to pursue criminal cases against Obama or his former officials rests not on legal prohibition, but on political precedent. Since US President Richard Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal in 1974, successive administrations have generally refrained from overtly influencing prosecutorial decisions at the Department of Justice (DOJ). However, these boundaries are guided more by custom than law. 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Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
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Can Ishiba hold on after election loss as Japan's political crisis deepens amid US tariff threats?
Japan is in political flux after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition lost its upper house majority for the first time in decades. With rising inflation, internal party unrest, and looming US tariffs, Ishiba vows to stay — but opposition parties are circling, and a far-right populist wave is gaining ground. Can his government survive? read more Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo on July 21, 2025, the day after the prime minister's coalition lost its upper house majority. File Image/Pool via Reuters Japan's political leadership is facing turmoil as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition suffered a defeat in the recent upper house elections. 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When asked about these internal calls for his resignation, Ishiba said: 'It is natural that there are various opinions within the party.' Although the LDP remains the largest party in parliament, its inability to pass legislation unilaterally will likely require negotiation with the fragmented opposition. Analysts believe Ishiba may now have to build support for individual policies through ad hoc alliances in order to keep the government functioning. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Opposition is reacting The electoral results provided a boost to opposition parties. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), led by Yoshihiko Noda, secured 22 seats in the upper house, bringing its total to 37. Following the vote, Noda announced that he was considering introducing a no-confidence motion against the Ishiba government, arguing that the election outcome demonstrated a lack of public trust in the current leadership. The centre-right Democratic Party for the People also increased its standing, finishing with 22 seats. However, despite the gains made by individual parties, the broader opposition remains fragmented across roughly a dozen parties, making it difficult to form a cohesive alternative to the ruling coalition. Any attempt to topple Ishiba's government through a no-confidence vote would need broad support from across these disparate groups, a scenario that currently appears unlikely. What about Sanseito While the traditional parties battled for control, the election also saw a dramatic rise in support for the far-right Sanseito party. Founded during the Covid-19 pandemic, the party grew its influence through online platforms like YouTube, often promoting conspiracy theories related to vaccines and elite global networks. Sanseito increased its representation from one seat to 15, becoming one of the most notable political stories of the election. Their 'Japanese First' slogan and strong anti-immigration rhetoric struck a chord with disillusioned voters who felt neglected by mainstream political discourse. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Party leader Sohei Kamiya, a former supermarket manager and English teacher, has previously cited European right-wing movements like Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and the UK's Reform Party as inspiration for Sanseito's political model. Supporters of Sanseito often express concerns about immigration and cultural erosion. One voter, 25-year-old graduate student Yu Nagai, told AFP: 'I am attending graduate school but there are no Japanese around me. All of them are foreigners. When I look at the way compensation and money are spent on foreigners, I think that Japanese people are a bit disrespected.' Although foreign-born residents make up only about 3 per cent of Japan's population, a record 3.8 million foreigners now live in the country. The influx — boosted by tourism and labour shortages — has sparked increased visibility and debate around immigration policy, especially in urban centres. How Trump's tariff threats play into this The most pressing foreign policy issue facing Ishiba's government is the ongoing trade standoff with the United States. With a 25 per cent tariff on Japanese automobiles set to come into effect on August 1, the urgency to strike a mutually beneficial deal with Washington has become paramount. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ishiba has stated that he hopes to meet with US President Donald Trump soon to resolve the matter. 'We are engaged in extremely critical tariff negotiations with the United States … we must never ruin these negotiations. It is only natural to devote our complete dedication and energy to realising our national interests,' Ishiba told TV Tokyo. The economic implications of the proposed tariffs are significant. Japan's automobile sector, which comprises roughly 8 per cent of the national workforce, has already begun to feel the strain. Exports to the US have dropped sharply, fuelling concerns of an impending recession. Japan's chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa has made multiple trips to Washington in recent months. His latest visit, which began Monday morning, is his eighth in the past three months. The US administration has voiced its displeasure with Japan's trade practices, particularly over what it perceives as barriers to American goods such as rice and cars. Trump has also criticised the lack of meaningful progress in negotiations, despite Japan's ongoing grain shortages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
