Defense spending demand Herculean task

The United States has "succeeded" in pressing its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies to agree to increase their military spending from 2 percent of their gross domestic product to 5 percent in the years to come. It is now doubling down by putting pressure on its allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific to follow suit.

But the US picked an improper excuse to urge Japan and Australia to raise their defense spending. Reportedly, the Pentagon demanded the two countries to clarify how they would help "defend" Taiwan island.

Elbridge Colby, the US under secretary of defense for policy, has been pushing the matter during recent talks with defense officials of both countries, according to a report the Financial Times published on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.