Beijing on Monday said President Joe Biden’s recent comments that the United States would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion “severely hurt” Washington’s policy on the island.
Washington severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, shifting recognition to Beijing as China’s sole representative – but it has since maintained a crucial, if delicate, role in supporting the island.
In an interview with US broadcaster CBS that aired Sunday, Biden was asked if US troops would defend Taiwan and replied “yes” if it was “an unprecedented attack.”
He went on to say that Taiwan makes its “own judgments” about independence and the US “does not encourage its independence”.
“It’s her choice,” he said.
China reacted angrily on Monday when Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning told a regular news briefing: “The statements by the US…seriously violate the important US commitment not to support Taiwan independence and send a seriously wrong signal to the US.” Taiwan Separatist Independence Forces.”
“We are ready to make the greatest sincere efforts to pursue the prospect of peaceful reunification,” Mao said.
“At the same time, we will never tolerate activities aimed at dividing the country and reserve the choice to take any necessary action.”
Tensions between China and the US are already higher than usual following the rare visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, a key Biden ally and speaker of the House of Representatives.
Last week, a US Senate committee took the first step to directly allocate billions of dollars in military aid to Taiwan and make ties more official.
The US earlier in September approved a possible arms sale to Taiwan worth more than $1 billion, including 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles, sparking China’s anger.
“We call on the US side to fully recognize the extreme importance and high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue…(and) seriously implement the US leadership’s commitment not to support Taiwan independence,” Mao added.
– “Strategic Ambiguity” –
Biden’s comments seemed to deviate from decades of US policy towards Taiwan.
While Washington is arming Taiwan, it has long maintained a policy of “strategic ambiguity” about whether it would intervene militarily should Beijing invade.
The policy is designed to discourage both China from invading and Taiwan from officially declaring independence.
As on previous occasions when Biden appeared to change US policy on the island, the White House insisted the remarks indicated no change.
In May, Biden signaled again that he would use military force to defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion, but made no statement.
Biden’s new comments are “dangerous, even if they are not an official change in policy,” wrote Jessica Chen Weiss, a government professor at Cornell University, on Twitter.
“Clearer here than in previous gaffes is the suggestion that the US would send troops to fight for Taiwan regardless of what Taiwan does,” she wrote, adding that this “will reinforce the perception that the US believes Taiwan issue a blank check”.
However, Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Monday expressed its “sincere gratitude” for Biden’s support.
