The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.

China has intensified military pressure on Taiwan, with 14 aircraft and 9 naval vessels detected near its territory. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reports that 9 of the aircraft crossed the median line into its air defense zone,

U.S. officials warned the world about a potential conflict over Taiwan. China accused Taiwanese authorities of hacking. China’s president asserted legal authority over Taiwan. Taiwan increased

Taiwan's newly acquired HIMARS and Abrams tanks would raise the costs of a Chinese amphibious landing, a defense analyst says.

Taiwan has commenced deploying HIMARS ahead of significant live-fire drills aimed at demonstrating its resolve to counter any Chinese aggression. This move, part of the Han Kuang exercises, emphasizes Taiwan's military readiness against China's intensified military maneuvers around the island.

China has imposed export controls on eight companies tied to Taiwan’s military as the self-ruled island began annual military exercises.

Beijing has declared Taiwan as an "inalienable" part of China, whereas Taipei has long asserted its independence.

The Pentagon has contacted Japan and Australia to determine their potential involvement if the U.S. and China were to engage in a conflict over Taiwan. U.S. under-secretary of defense, Elbridge Colby,

Momentum is building in Taiwan to lessen its business dependency on China, its biggest trading partner. Doing so will not be easy.

China claims Taiwan as its own despite Taipei's objections. The United States does not recognize Taiwan's statehood but has political and economic stakes in a peaceful resolution to the decades-long dispute, and is obliged by U.S. law to help Taipei arm itself against a possible attack.