Joe Biden responds to fears of invasion of Taiwan
Key Takeaways:
- US President Joe Biden warned China against "flirting with danger" by stating that if Beijing invaded the self-ruled island, the US would protect it militarily.
US President Joe Biden warned China against "flirting with danger" by saying his country would defend Taiwan militarily if Beijing invaded the self-ruled island.
When asked if the US would engage militarily against a Chinese attempt to forcibly take control of Taiwan, he answered during a news conference in Tokyo, "That's the commitment we made." "We signed on to the One China policy, but the concept that it can be taken by force is simply not suitable."
"We agree with the One-China policy, and we signed on to it and all the subsequent accords," Biden noted. "However, the concept that it might be seized by force, simply taken by force, is simply not suitable." It will destabilize the entire region, and it will be a repeat of what happened in Ukraine."
In possibly his most forceful remarks to date, the US president directly linked the outcome of Western efforts to assist Ukraine in repelling the Russian incursion with lessons Beijing is expected to learn about Taiwan.
"Putin must pay the price for his brutality in Ukraine," Biden said. "Russia must bear a long-term cost."
Biden stated that this is "not just about Ukraine" because China is looking to see if Western pressure on Russia eases.
He wondered aloud, "What signal does that make to China about the cost of... attempting to take Taiwan by force?"
China does not have "jurisdiction to acquire Taiwan by force," according to Biden.
Meanwhile, Biden stated that the United States' position toward Taiwan "has not altered."
After Biden's statements, a White House spokesperson said the president underlined "our One China Policy" and "our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to give Taiwan the military means to protect itself," according to Bloomberg.
Biden's remarks are sure to enrage China, frequently warning the US about its expanding backing for Taiwan.
In a recent phone chat with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Yang Jiechi, Beijing's top diplomat, stated, "If the US side keeps on playing the Taiwan card and goes even further down the wrong road, it would undoubtedly lead to a dangerous situation."