Alliance Options for Responding to a Taiwan Crisis

Abstract

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On Thursday, February 10, 2022, Sasakawa USA’s US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative held a bilateral dialogue focusing on alliance options for responding to a potential Taiwan crisis. This not-for-attribution event welcomed around 15 American and Japanese experts from government agencies, think tanks, universities, and involved former government officials and military officers. Mr. James Schoff, Senior Director of Sasakawa USA’s US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative moderated the dialogue. The discussion focused loosely on two hypothetical Taiwan crises and can be broadly summarized into the following three themes: (1) aligning U.S.-Japan strategic objectives; (2) U.S.-Japan options and priorities before a Taiwan crisis; and (3) U.S.-Japan options and priorities during a Taiwan crisis.   

The US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative is a forum for bilateral dialogue, networking, and the development of joint recommendations involving a wide range of policy and technical specialists (in and out of government) to stimulate new alliance connections across foreign, security, and technology policy areas. Established by Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA with support from the Nippon Foundation, the goal is to help improve the alliance and how it serves shared interests, preparing it for emerging challenges within an increasingly complex and dynamic geostrategic environment. Launched in 2021, the Initiative includes two overlapping lines of effort: 1) Foreign & Security Policy, and 2) Technology & Innovation Connections. The Initiative is led by Sr. Director James Schoff.