Japanese and U.S. armed forces on Thursday have drawn up a draft plan for a joint operation for a possible Taiwan emergency.

According to Japan's Kyodo news agency, the US marine corps would set up temporary bases on the Nansei island chain stretching from Kyushu, Japan to Taiwan at the initial stage of a Taiwan emergency and would deploy troops.

Japanese armed forces would provide logistical support in such areas as ammunition and fuel supplies, it said.

In early 2022, Japan and the US would likely reach an agreement to start formulating an official plan at a “2+2” meeting of foreign and defence ministers.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and in the past two years has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to assert its sovereignty claims. Taiwan's government says it wants peace, but will defend itself if needed.

Earlier this month, former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said Japan and the US could not stand by if China attacked Taiwan. Japan is host to major US military bases, including on the southern island of Okinawa, a short flight from Taiwan, which would be crucial for any US support during a Chinese attack.

Most of the countries in the world including US, recognises China over Taiwan, in line with Beijing’s “one China” policy but Washington is Taiwan’s biggest arms supplier and ally and is obliged by law to help it defend itself.

Image Credit: Reuters