Beijing has wanted to unite Taiwan with the mainland for years – militarily if necessary. US President Biden has now again pledged his help to the island state. In the event of a Chinese invasion, Washington would also defend the island. Shortly after Biden’s statement, however, the White House rowed back.
US President Joe Biden has again pledged military support to Taiwan in the event of an attack. “Yes, if there were actually an unprecedented attack,” said Biden in a TV interview broadcast on Sunday evening (local time) when asked: “Would the US armed forces defend the island?” Biden took questions from Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes in Thursday’s taped interview.
Pelley asked again: “So in contrast to Ukraine, to put it bluntly: US forces (…) would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?” Biden again answered in the affirmative. Pelley explained on the show that after interviewing Biden, the White House clarified that US policy had not changed and the US would not officially say whether American forces would defend Taiwan.
Biden made similarly clear statements on a trip to Japan in May, saying the United States has an “obligation” to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack. He later stressed that the US policy of “strategic ambiguity” in dealings with China and Taiwan had not changed.
The US has long pursued a line of “strategic ambiguity” on the Taiwan issue. The US has assured Taiwan of support in developing its defense capabilities, but has not expressly promised to come to the island’s aid in the event of war.
Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland – if necessary with military force. The United States has committed itself to Taiwan’s ability to defend itself – which has so far primarily meant arms deliveries. The question of military assistance in the event of an attack was deliberately left open because Beijing would see this as a violation of the “One China Doctrine”.
