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.

According to a Financial Times (FT) report, the Pentagon is pressing Japan and Australia to make clear what role they would play if the US and China go into conflict over China's Taiwan island, which has frustrated the two American allies.

The Financial Times reported on Saturday that Elbridge Colby, the US under-secretary of defence for policy, has been pressing Australian and Japanese officials on what they would do in a Taiwan conflict, although the US does not offer a blank cheque guarantee to defend Taiwan.