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President Biden stated that the US will send the military to defend Taiwan should the People’s Republic of China invade the island nation.
“Very quickly, for obvious reasons, you did not want to get involved militarily in the Ukraine conflict. Are you willing to engage militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that?” a reporter asked the president during a news conference in Japan.
“Yes,” Biden replied.
“You’re?” pressed the reporter.
“That’s the commitment we made,” the President said.
President Joe Biden, left, speaks during a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Akasaka Palace Monday, May 23, 2022 in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A White House spokesman told Fox News that government policy “has not changed.”
“As the President said, our policy has not changed,” the spokesman said. “He reaffirmed our one-China policy and our commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He also reaffirmed our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means of self-defense.”
The “One China Policy” refers to the US recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, but only recognizes Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of China without supporting it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin views Ukraine as part of historical Russia, and Xi views Taiwan as part of China.
CHINA LAUNCHES MILITARY EXERCISES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA WHILE BIDEN VISITS ASIA
In October, Biden said the US would defend Taiwan if China attacks. A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry responded by saying, “No one should underestimate the Chinese people’s strong determination, determination and ability to uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has no room for compromise.”
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during celebrations of the National Day in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan on Thursday, October 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
China launched military exercises in the disputed South China Sea as Biden’s trip to East Asia began on Friday.
Asia expert Gordon Chang, author of “The Great US-China Tech War,” said the Biden administration is trying to roll back previous hints that America is afraid of China by tying in with Taiwan discussions in the face of public warnings from Chinese officials continue. Chang told Fox & Friends Weekend Sunday that China’s latest military exercise was “connected” to Biden’s Asia visit because his joint statement with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol directly mentioned Taiwan.
“They are linked because prior to his landing in South Korea – the first stop on the trip – the Chinese publicly warned him not to talk about Taiwan, and so there was the joint statement by President Biden and President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea . which specifically mentions Taiwan,” Chang said. “There will be a lot of discussion about Taiwan in Japan, the second and final stop on this trip — and what the United States actually wanted to say to Beijing was, ‘I’m not afraid of you anymore.’ “
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“The reason the government has to do this is because the Biden team has been doing things over the past few weeks that made it appear as if they had been intimidated by China, which is why the Chinese were very aggressive ahead of the trip. because they thought they had Biden on the run,” Chang added.
According to documents allegedly authored by a Russian intelligence analyst in one of Moscow’s security agencies, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has upended Chinese President Xi Jinping’s schedule for an invasion of Taiwan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a commendation ceremony for role models from the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing April 8. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
“Xi Jinping was at least considering taking over Taiwan in the fall – he needs his own small win to be re-elected for a third term – where the struggle within the elite is colossal,” said an agent with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). , the successor agency to the KGB, reportedly wrote on March 9.
“Now, after the Ukrainian events, that window of opportunity has been closed to him, giving the United States the opportunity to blackmail Xi and negotiate with his competitors on favorable terms,” the FSB agent added. “In this case, we have started a trap mechanism for China with our actions.”