Joe Biden says the United States will step in to defend Taiwan if China tries to invade the country.
During a news conference on Monday, Biden shared that Beijing was “flirting with danger” after it recently performed military drills and other actions toward Taiwan. Taiwan is self-governing, but China reportedly views the country as its own territory.
If China did plan to make a Russia-like move on Taiwan, Biden says the U.S. plans to use its military to defend it. “You didn’t want to get involved in the Ukraine conflict militarily for obvious reasons,” a reporter asked, NBC News reports. “Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that?”
“Yes. That’s the commitment we made,” Biden responded during the conference, which took place in Tokyo. Biden spoke alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
“As the President said, our policy has not changed. He reiterated our One China Policy and our commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” said an official, NBC News reports. “He also reiterated our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself.”
In response, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, shared a “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the U.S.’s remarks” and cautioned the U.S. against standing up for Taiwan’s independence.”
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Taiwan issue is purely China’s internal affairs, which brooks no interference from any external forces,” said Wang on Monday, NBC News reports. “On issues concerning China’s core interests such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, China has no room for compromise.”
He continued: “No one should underestimate the strong determination, firm will, and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
