Chairperson Joe Biden said on Monday that the United States would intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwansaid that the burden to defend Taiwan was “even stronger” after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It marked one of the strongest presidential statements in favor of self-government in decades.
At a news conference in Tokyo, Biden said “yes” when asked if he would be willing to engage militarily to defend Taiwan should China invade.
“That’s the commitment we’ve made,” he added.
The US has traditionally avoided offering such an explicit security guarantee to Taiwan, where it no longer has a mutual defense treaty, instead maintaining a policy of “strategic ambiguity” about how far they would be willing to go if China invaded.
The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which governs U.S. relations with the island, does not require the United States to intervene militarily to defend Taiwan should China invade, but sets forth U.S. policy. to ensure Taiwan has sufficient resources to defend itself and prevent any unilateral action. Beijing’s change of status in Taiwan.
Biden’s comments received a harsh response from the mainland, which has labeled Taiwan a rogue province.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin expressed “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to Biden’s comments, saying: “China has no room for compromise or concessions on the issues related to China’s core interests such as sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
He added, “China will act resolutely to protect its sovereignty and security interests, and we will do what we say.”
A White House official said Biden’s comments did not reflect a change of policy.
Speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden said any attempt by China to use force against Taiwan would be “inappropriate”, adding that the action “would make disorder of the entire region and is another act similar to what happened in Ukraine.”
China has stepped up military provocations against democratic Taiwan in recent years to threaten it to accept Beijing’s demands for reunification with the communist mainland.
Biden said of China: “Right now they are lurking in danger by flying too close and doing all sorts of maneuvers.
Under the “one China” policy, the US recognizes Beijing as the government of China and has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
However, the United States maintains informal contacts including a de facto embassy in Taipei, the capital, and provides military equipment for the defense of the island.
Biden said his “expectation” that China would not try to take Taiwan by force, but he said that assessment “depends on how strongly the world makes clear that that kind of action will lead to to the enduring opposition of the rest of the community.”
He added that preventing China from attacking Taiwan is one reason why it is important for Russian President Vladimir Putin to “pay a heavy price for his barbaric act in Ukraine”, lest China and other countries think such action is acceptable.
Fearing an escalation with nuclear-armed Russia, Biden quickly ruled out sending U.S. forces into direct conflict with Russia, but he has shipped billions of dollars in U.S. military assistance to help Ukraine fight back. against the onslaught of Russia.
Taipei welcomed Mr. Biden’s remarks, in which State Department spokeswoman Joanne Ou expressed “sincere welcome and gratitude” for those remarks.
“The challenge that China poses to the security of the Taiwan Strait has attracted great attention from the international community.
“Taiwan will continue to enhance its self-defence capabilities, and cooperate extensively with the United States and Japan and other like-minded countries to jointly safeguard the security of the Taiwan Strait and the peace and order of Taiwan.” rules-based international relations, while promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. ”
This is not the first time Biden has pledged to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack, only to be later confirmed by administration officials that there has been no change to US policy.
During a CNN town hall in October, Biden was asked about using the US military to defend Taiwan and replied, “Yes, we have a commitment to that.”
Biden’s comments come just before he officially kicks off a long-awaited Indo-Pacific trade agreement that excludes Taiwan.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday confirmed that Taiwan is not among the governments that have signed up to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which is meant to allow the US to work closely together. with Asia’s key economies on issues such as supply chains, digital trade, clean energy and anti-corruption.
Including Taiwan would upset China.
Mr. Sullivan said the US wants to deepen its economic partnership with Taiwan on a one-to-one basis.
© 2022 Canadian Press
