Currents News Staff
President Joe Biden is vowing U.S. military response to defend Taiwan if China were to invade.
“That’s the commitment we made,” the president made at a joint press conference in Tokyo with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.The president repeated similar comments that his staff has tried to walk back in the past.
“We support the One China policy,” President Biden said. “All that we’ve done in the past, but that does not mean, it does not mean that China has the ability as the excuse me, the jurisdiction to go in and use force to take over Taiwan.
China isn’t taking the criticism lightly and warned the president to be careful with his words. The White House says no changes have been made to official U.S. policy and reiterated the country’s commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself.
“I do think that’s a premature comment off the cuff,” said Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. “Everybody listens to the commander-in-chief, however, I think deterrence is important here.”
The president’s remarks come just before formally unveiling a 13-member Indo-Pacific economic bloc that’s intended to counter China’s dominance in the region.
“We’re committed for the long haul,” he said. “We’re ready to champion our vision for a positive future together with friends and partners.”