President Joe Biden stated in an interview aired Sunday that the US military would defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression. If a Chinese force invaded the democratically run island, then a US force would defend Taiwan. It is said in comments that appear to go beyond longtime US policy on the matter. Biden has previously promised to defend Taiwan. He added Sunday that US men and women are involved in the effort. He gave his remarks in an interview. It’s not the first time Biden has departed from the traditional US policy of strategic ambiguity. It happens, especially when it comes to Taiwan’s defence in his public remarks. During a Tokyo trip in May, Biden declared that if China tried to take Taiwan militarily, the US would interfere.
Beijing’s Remarks
Biden’s prior remarks on Taiwan were quickly downplayed by the White House. This has emphasized that US policy hasn’t changed. On Sunday, “60 Minutes” claimed that it received a similar response to Biden’s replies in their interview. Beijing quickly denounced Biden’s remarks against Chinese aggression. He emphasized that China has the right to take any necessary action. He asserted that China has the right to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Statement by Mao Ning
The three joint parts of town between the US and China, as well as the one-China principle, are gravely violated. Additionally, it is a grave breach of the significant pledge made by the US side not to back Taiwanese independence. At a briefing on Monday, Mao Ning stated who is a spokesman for China’s ministry of foreign affairs. According to Mao, it seriously misled the separatist forces pushing for Taiwan’s independence. China has made significant representations to the US side and expressed its strong displeasure and disapproval.
Less than 110 miles (177 kilometres) separate Taiwan from China’s shore. The two sides have had separate governments for about 70 years. Despite never having had sovereignty over the island, China’s Communist Party has continued to claim it as its own. The head of China has declared that the reunification of China and Taiwan is inevitable. It has refused to rule out using force to achieve this goal. Beijing and Taipei are currently experiencing their worst level of hostility in decades. Due to this, the Chinese military is conducting extensive military exercises close to the island.
The US acknowledges China’s claim that Taiwan is a part of China under the “One China” policy. It has never formally acknowledged the 23 million-person island’s claim by the Communist Party. Taiwan receives defensive weapons from the US. However, it has purposefully avoided saying whether it would use force to defend itself in the event of Chinese aggression.
Biden’s Statement On Chinese Aggression
Joe Biden made a potentially risky statement on Monday on Chinese aggression. He answered a reporter’s inquiry about his willingness to participate militarily in defending Taiwan with a simple “yes” in Tokyo. Biden has stated that the US would use force to prevent Beijing from capturing the island. In the interview, Biden reaffirmed his dedication to fundamental principles. He claimed in his interview that we concur with the agreements we made in the past. Additionally, Taiwan decides for itself whether or not to declare itself independent under the policy of China. We aren’t moving and we don’t support their independence. They are the ones who decide that.
He said that the US military would defend the island when asked. If there was an unprecedented attack, it would be in this manner. Biden’s remarks on Sunday are expected to reignite talk about future adjustments to US Taiwan policy. Analysts pointed out that his choice of words was not entirely clear and left space for interpretation.
Drew Thompson’s Thoughts
Thompson said that we are prone to reading a lot into the president’s remarks, but Biden’s perspective hadn’t altered. The specifics of any US defence, according to Thompson, don’t necessarily entail American troops on the ground in Taiwan. According to him, the Pentagon would give Biden a range of alternatives for the positioning of US forces. It is a case of Chinese aggression on the island.
The choice entails the use of US naval resources or only a US show of force in the area. To prevent a potential Chinese invasion, it also involves US cyber assets and air power operating offshore.
US-China relations
Biden’s most recent remarks could further strain relations between the US and China. In response to Nancy Pelosi’s visit, Beijing suspended all communication with the US on significant subjects. This is after Beijing’s intense opposition. It involves such things as climate change and military relations and conducting large military exercises near Taiwan. Nancy Pelosi is the US House Speaker.
During their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, Xi and Putin discussed several topics, including Taiwan. Both leaders agreed that China’s sovereignty over the island is a non-negotiable red line. It was during the discussion, which took place during a regional summit in Uzbekistan. Xi emphasized that Taiwan is a part of China. He expressed his gratitude for Russia’s dedication to the “one China” policy.
Final Verdict
Biden made his statement against Chinese aggression publicly three times in less than a year. The US intelligence community has made it clear that it believes China is actively working to develop a military force. The force is capable of occupying Taiwan. CIA Deputy Director David Cohen stated last week that although Xi has not yet decided to invade Taiwan. By 2027, he wants the People’s Liberation Army of China to be able to occupy the island by force. According to Cohen, the US intelligence community does not think Beijing has made a judgement over whether or not to move forward. He continued by saying that it is thought that Xi would want to take control of Taiwan without using force. He also stated that the organization is closely monitoring the lessons China is taking away from the conflict in Ukraine.
