The U.S. Department of Defense is pressing Japan and Australia to spell out how they would respond if Washington became embroiled in a war with China over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on 12 July, citing people familiar with recent high-level discussions. According to the report, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby delivered the request during meetings in recent months with defence officials from Tokyo and Canberra. In addition to clarifying wartime responsibilities, Colby is said to have urged both allies to accelerate increases in their defence budgets. The push is part of the Trump administration’s effort to reinforce deterrence against Beijing by ensuring its key Indo-Pacific partners are prepared for a Taiwan contingency. The initiative has reportedly caught both governments off guard, as Washington itself still maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity on whether it would commit forces to defend the island. The Pentagon has not publicly commented on the reported talks.