Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her country's strategic alliance with the U.S. would collapse if Tokyo were to turn away from a conflict in Taiwan, but distanced herself from previous comments that suggested a possible military response in such an event.
Takaichi expressed her latest views on a nationally broadcast TV programme late on Monday, where an opposition party leader criticized her for igniting tensions with China with the earlier remarks.
Ties between Japan and China have sunk to the worst level in years after Takaichi said in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese military response. Beijing has responded with export curbs, flight cancellations and vitriolic commentaries, repeatedly demanding a retraction.
China claims sovereignty over the democratically-governed island of Taiwan.
"I want to make it absolutely clear that this is not about Japan going out and taking military action if China and the United States come into conflict (over Taiwan)," Takaichi said on the live TV show, referring to the comments she made in parliament in November.
