Biden: US to respond militarily if China attacks Taiwan

President Joe Biden said the United States would be willing to intervene to protect Taiwan if China were to attack him.

At a news conference in Tokyo, President Biden was asked if the United States was willing to “engage militarily to protect Taiwan”, given that Washington was unwilling to do so following Russian aggression in Ukraine.

“Yes. This is the pledge we have taken”, President Biden said, without explaining what would include a hypothetical protection of the United States for Taiwan.

The reason I say this is because it's not just Ukraine anymore. If, after all that he has done (Putini) there will be a re-opening between Ukrainians and Russia, and sanctions do not continue, then what signal would China be sent for the cost of an effort to take Taiwan by force?”, President Biden added.

This is President Biden's recent apparent move from the approach of the strategic “inaccuracy that the American presidents have long embraced when talking of a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has vowed to regain it, if necessary, by force. The Chinese foreign ministry condemned President Beden's comments.

“No one should underestimate the determination, will and ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Do not fight against 1.4 billion Chinese”, said Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

President Biden also presented an initiative Monday aimed at demonstrating American economic engagement in Asia, in spite of China's activity. Although praising these efforts, critics say such a framework of co-operation would not constitute legal obligation for participating countries.

On their part, the Chinese are coordinating their commitment. I think it's problematic when the United States isn't making something like that. If we're in this extreme competition with China, we're not acting like them. And it seems they're doing a better job”, says Derek Grossman, the RAND Corporation.

However, President Biden confirmed US support for the policy of “single China”.

We support the policy of single China. We support the steps taken in the past, but that does not mean that China has jurisdiction to intervene and use force to take Taiwan. Therefore, we stand by Japan and other countries so that this does not happen. I don't expect that to happen; there will be no effort for that. Much will depend on how hard the world will make clear that such an act will cause long-term discontent in the world community”, President Beden said.

Based on the policy of <x0 and only China”, the United States recognises Beijing as the government of China and has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

However, the United States maintains informal contacts with Taiwan, even a de facto embassy in the capital city of Taipei. The United States supplies Taiwan with military weapons to enable the protection of this island country. / VOA