U.S. Senate Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Japan Amid China Tensions

Senate Backs Japan Against Chinese Coercion

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a resolution on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, to formally express support for Japan and condemn China's escalating economic and military pressure. The resolution comes amidst heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, particularly following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding a potential contingency in Taiwan.

The measure was spearheaded by Senator Pete Ricketts, a Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy, and Senator Christopher Coons, the Democratic ranking member of the same panel. Senator Bill Hagerty, a Republican and former U.S. ambassador to Japan, also joined as a cosponsor, underscoring the bipartisan consensus on the issue.

Condemnation of Beijing's Pressure Tactics

The resolution explicitly criticizes Beijing for 'economic, military and diplomatic coercion and aggression' directed at Japan. This condemnation addresses China's response to Japan's stance on Taiwan, which has included various pressure tactics. China has previously employed measures such as:

• Encouraging Chinese tourists and students to refrain from visiting Japan.
• Halting imports of Japanese seafood.
• Canceling screenings of Japanese films and performances by Japanese artists in China.

These actions, characterized by experts as 'informal economic coercion,' aim to influence Japan's foreign policy and demonstrate the potential economic repercussions of its positions.

Reaffirming the U.S.-Japan Alliance and Regional Stability

Beyond condemning China, the resolution also serves to reaffirm the enduring strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance. It applauds Tokyo's 'efforts to diffuse tensions' and acknowledges Japan's crucial role as 'a key ally in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.'

A significant aspect of the resolution is its reaffirmation that Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security applies to the Senkaku Islands. These islands, administered by Japan, are also claimed by China, which refers to them as Diaoyu. This clause underscores the U.S. commitment to Japan's defense, including its territorial integrity.

Context of Taiwan Contingency Remarks

The introduction of this resolution is directly linked to recent comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan, a classification within Japan's security lexicon that could potentially trigger the invocation of Japan's right to collective self-defense and military action in support of its ally, the United States. This perspective has drawn strong reactions from Beijing and prompted the U.S. State Department to reaffirm its commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance and stability in the Taiwan Strait.