President Biden declared Sunday that U.S. forces would defend Taiwan if China launches “an unprecedented attack,” underscoring the U.S. commitment to protect the island as China ratchets up threats.
In a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday evening, Mr. Biden was asked whether U.S. forces would defend Taiwan if there was a Chinese incursion.
“Yes, if in fact, there was an unprecedented attack, “Mr. Biden said.
“So unlike Ukraine, to be clear, sir, U.S. forces, U.S. men and women would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?” asked interviewer Scott Pelley.
“Yes,” Mr. Biden responded.
Later, Mr. Pelley asked the president what Chinese President Xi Jinping should know about the U.S. commitment to Taiwan.
“We agree with what we signed onto a long time ago,” Mr. Biden said. “And that there’s ‘One China’ policy, and Taiwan makes their own judgments about their independence. We are not moving — we’re not encouraging their being independent. We’re not – that — that’s their decision.”
Officially, the U.S. policy is that there is one China, that Taiwan is a part of China, and that the government sitting in Beijing is China’s legitimate government.
Shortly after the interview aired, a
Continue Reading at The Washington Times.