Biden admin says Taiwan will be protected if China attacks

US President Joe Biden has said that the US must defend Taiwan if China attacks. He said it in an apparent departure from the long-held position of US foreign policy.

But the spokesperson for the White House told some media that his remarks do not signify any kind of change in the policy. The US possesses a law that requires it to help Taiwan to defend itself if China attacks.

But it is pursuing a policy for strategic ambiguity. It is deliberately vague about what it can do in case China attacks Taiwan.

In a CNN town hall event, a participant asked him if he could vow to offer protection to Taiwan. Also, he asked what she would do to follow up with the military development in China.

Mr. Biden responded, “Yes and yes.” He added there was no need to “worry about whether they’re going to be more powerful”, because “China, Russia and the rest of the world know we’re the most powerful military in the history of the world”.

An anchor further asked him if the US would come to defend Taiwan from China; he said “yes”.

A spokesperson later said that he was not announcing any change in the policy. This is now the first time when Mr. Biden said something in the stance of the ROC. The White House further said that there is no change in the policy of the US with Taiwan.

The US does not have any kind of diplomatic tie with Taiwan. But it sells arms as a part of its Taiwan Relations Act. It states that the US must offer the island all the means to defend itself.

Taiwan’s presidential office said that it would not put any pressure on getting support. Taiwan will show a very firm determination in its self-defense. China has not yet made any response. The US Ambassador of China said that the taking up of dangerous actions is leading the situation in a dangerous direction.

Credits: BBC