A Japanese lawmaker is pushing for a formal military alliance between the US, Japan and Taiwan, framing China as a standing threat to both Taiwan and Japan.

• Japanese senator Ishihira Seihei told a Taipei defense forum that the US-Japan security treaty is missing a "leg" — Taiwan.
• The argument: as long as the Chinese Communist Party exists, it will look for a chance to attack Taiwan and could also strike Japan.
• He backed restoring formal diplomatic ties between Japan and Taiwan, which Tokyo cut in 1972.
• Back home he plans to push for a Japanese version of the US "Taiwan Relations Act" to lock in defense cooperation by law.
• Taiwan's foreign minister Lin Chia-lung also spoke at the event, signalling official interest on the Taipei side.

Outlook: Nothing binding comes from this yet, but expect more Japanese legislative pressure to formalize defense ties with Taiwan, and sharp objections from Beijing.