Japan rejects US intelligence assessment of a 'significant shift' in its Taiwan stance

TOKYO, March 19 (Reuters) - Japan has not changed its position on how it determines an existential threat, its top government spokesperson said on Friday, rejecting an assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies of a "significant shift" in its stance on Taiwan.

The agencies said in an annual threat report on Wednesday that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese military response departed from the rhetoric of previous Japanese leaders.

"The government's position of judging an existential crisis situation with all the information it gathers is consistent with the past," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press briefing.

"The assessment that there has been a major shift is not accurate."

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has responded furiously to Takaichi's remarks, urging its people not to travel to Japan and choking off some exports.

Takaichi has also repeatedly maintained that her stance was consistent with longstanding Japanese policy.