Will US Defend Taiwan If China Attacks? Joe Biden Says Yes!

United States President Joe Biden has once again reaffirmed that the American military will move to defend the self-governing island nation of Taiwan if China decides to attack and claim Taipei as its territory.

The Democratic leader made the remarks during an interview that aired on Sunday, comments that appear to venture beyond the longstanding U.S. policy on the issue. During the talk, Biden was asked whether "U.S. forces, U.S. men and women, would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion."

Defending Taiwan

It was not the first time that the Democrat has gone further in his public comments about the longstanding U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity" when it comes to the support of Taiwan against China. During his recent visit to Tokyo in May, he said that the U.S. would intervene militarily if Beijing attempts to take Taiwan by force.

However, the White House has been quick to downplay Biden's previous comments on Taiwan, repeatedly reiterating that U.S. policy has not changed. On Sunday, "60 Minutes" reported receiving a similar response to Biden's answers in the interview, as per CNN.

On the other hand, Beijing swiftly condemned Biden's comments and once again warned that China reserves the "option to take all necessary measures" to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty."

In a briefing on Monday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said, "The U.S. remarks seriously violate the one-China principle and the provisions of the three U.S.-China joint communiques." The official added that they were serious violations of the important commitment made by the U.S. not to side with Taiwan's independence.

According to BBC, the situation comes as the United States tries to walk a diplomatic tightrope over the issue. On one hand, it supports the one-China policy, which is a cornerstone of its relationship with Beijing.

U.S.-China Relations

On the other, it also tries to maintain close relations with Taiwan and sells arms to it under the Taiwan Relations Act, which states that the U.S. must provide the island with the means to defend itself.

Biden's recent comments, however, are his clearest yet in pledging U.S. military intervention between China and Taiwan. However, during the interview, the U.S. president reiterated that the U.S. was not encouraging Taiwan's independence.

The situation comes as earlier this month, the U.S. agreed to sell $1.1 billion in weapons and missile defense to Taiwan, which provoked anger from Beijing. It is the third time since October last year that Biden has gone further than U.S. policy.

Tensions between the U.S. and China, especially over Taiwan's independence, have ramped up after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a controversial visit to the self-governing island nation in August.

The arms package sold to Taiwan was in the works for quite some time because it was expected that it would be needed due to China's increased pressure on Taipei, said State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel, CBS News reported.

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United States, Taiwan, China, Joe Biden