conflicts
The United States would provide military support to Taiwan in the event of an attack
US President Joe Biden making a press statement at the White House. photo
© Susan Walsh/AP/dpa
The US is helping Ukraine with a lot of money and weapons. But conflicts are also smoldering elsewhere: China is threatening to conquer Taiwan. How would the US react in the event of an attack? Biden answers clearly.
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 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 that the United States has an “obligation” to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack. At the beginning of August, US top politician Nancy Pelosi caused tensions with China with a trip to Taiwan.
The communist leadership in Beijing regards Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic and threatens to conquer it. 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”.