US will defend Taiwan from Chinese invasion: Joe Biden
What's the story
US President Joe Biden on Monday said he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan from China if the latter invaded the self-ruled island nation. When asked if the US would intervene militarily against a Chinese attempt to forcibly take control of Taiwan, he said, "That's the commitment we made." Biden added China was flirting with danger by flying close to Taiwan.
Context
Why does this story matter?
While Taiwan remains self-ruled, China claims the island as its own that must be reunited with the mainland. Notably, the US-Taiwan proximity has grown under the American administrations of Donald Trump (2017-2021) and Joe Biden (incumbent). The US's commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with military support to defend itself is also viewed as an affront to China.
One China policy
Idea of taking over Taiwan forcibly not appropriate: Biden
At a news conference in Tokyo, Biden said, "We agreed with the One China policy, we signed on to it...but the idea that it can be taken by force is just not appropriate...action would be similar to what happened in Ukraine." US has long followed a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan if Chinese attacks it.
Strong message
US policy toward Taiwan hasn't changed
Biden also said that the US policy toward Taiwan "has not changed at all." A White House spokesperson also reiterated Biden's "One China policy" and the commitment to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself, Bloomberg reported. Hoping such a situation doesn't arise, Biden said that it was important for world leaders to send a strong message out to Beijing.
Further anger
China had warned US over increased support for Taiwan
China had in the past warned the US over its increased support for Taiwan. Biden's latest statement is likely to further irk Beijing. "If the US side insists on playing the Taiwan card and goes further and further down the wrong road, it will certainly lead to a dangerous situation," Yang Jiechi, Beijing's top diplomat, reportedly told American National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan recently.