What was Biden thinking?
During a news conference in Japan, President Joe Biden stated the U.S. would send military support to Taiwan if the People’s Republic of China decided to invade the nation.
Starting by acknowledging Biden’s reluctance to send U.S. troops to Ukraine when Russia invaded the nation, a reporter queried, “Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that?”
“Yes,” Biden responded, before the reporter pressed, “You are?”
“That’s the commitment we made,” Biden elaborated.
Following Biden’s statements, a spokesperson for the White House reiterated U.S. support for Taiwan, “As the President said, our policy has not changed,” adding, “He reiterated our One China Policy and our commitment to peace and stability throughout the Taiwan strait. He also reiterated our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself.”
In response to Biden’s statements, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin voiced the country’s “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to Biden’s remarks.
“China has no room for compromise or concessions on issues involving China’s core interests such as sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Wenbin added.
In October of last year, Biden stated that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China attacked.
And on Friday, as Biden’s trip to East Asia began, China launched a military exercise in the disputed South China Sea, a clear sign of hostility toward Biden’s support for Taiwan.
