BEIJING (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden said U.S. troops would defend Taiwan if China attempted to invade an autonomous island claimed by Beijing as part of its territory, in a further sign of official U.S. support for Taiwan’s democracy.
Biden said “yes” when asked in a Sept. 18 interview on CBS News’ “60 Minutes” that “if China invades, the U.S. military, men and women, will defend Taiwan.”
CBS News reported that the White House said after the interview that U.S. policy had not changed. The policy said Washington wanted to see Taiwan’s status resolved peacefully, but did not say whether it might send U.S. troops to respond to a Chinese attack.
Tensions are escalating after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government’s efforts to intimidate Taiwan by launching missiles into nearby waters and flying fighter jets nearby and a visit to Taipei by politicians including U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry expressed its “sincere thanks” to Biden for “affirming the U.S. government’s rock-solid commitment to Taiwan’s security.”
The statement said Taiwan would “resist authoritarian expansion and aggression” and “deepen a close security partnership” with Washington and other “like-minded” governments to maintain regional stability.
Under federal law, Washington is obliged to ensure Taiwan has the means to defend itself, but has not said whether it will send U.S. troops. The United States has no official relationship with the island, but maintains informal diplomatic relations.
After the civil war ended in 1949, Taiwan and mainland China were divided, and the Communist Party took control of the mainland. The two governments say they are one country but argue over who has the right to be the nation’s leader.
Beijing has criticized official diplomatic engagement with Taiwan’s democratically elected government as encouraging the perpetuation of its de facto independence, which the mainland says will lead to war.
Washington has said it does not support formal Taiwan independence, a position Biden reiterated in an interview broadcast.
“Taiwan has made its own judgment about its independence,” the president said. “We don’t encourage them to be independent.”
Asked at a news conference in Tokyo in May whether he would be willing to militarily participate in the defense of Taiwan if China invaded, he said “yes.”
