President Joe Biden on Monday forced his own White House to retract his false claim that Washington has a military “obligation” to defend Taiwan, most likely in the event of an invasion by China.
Biden answered yes to a question about the protection of Taiwan at a joint press conference in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Monday.
When asked if he was willing to participate in military operations to protect Taiwan, Biden said, “Yes. We have made such a commitment.”
Taiwan is a sovereign country governed by an independent and democratic system. China incorrectly describes it as a “province” and regularly threatens violence to achieve “reunification” (Taiwan has never been ruled by a Beijing-based regime in its history).
The US does not recognize Taiwan as a state; this is a concession made to China by former President Jimmy Carter.
Taiwan Law allows Washington to “establish relations” with Taipei separately from Beijing, and allows the United States to “provide Taiwan with natural defense weapons” but does not assume military obligations to defend Taiwan’s independence. There is no military agreement between Taiwan and America.
The Chinese military conducted its second major offensive this year on Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Friday, ordering 18 military aircraft to fly to the special zone, the Taipei Times reported. https://t.co/pL4tb3Shbi
– Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) May 10, 2022
The White House soon released a media statement, reassuring the world that Biden’s statements did not create new military obligations for America.
“As the President said, our policy has not changed. It reaffirmed our one-China policy and our commitment to peace and stability along the Taiwan Strait.
The official also reiterated our commitment to provide Taiwan with military tools for self-defense under the Taiwan Relations Act.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) and his wife Yuko Kishida (left) greet US President Joe Biden as they come to dinner at a traditional Kochuan restaurant in Tokyo on May 23, 2022. (RODRIGO REYES MARIN/POOL/ AFP via Getty Pictures) )
“One China” is a term used to refer to several different policies. In the United States, it is used to describe the policy of not recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign state and maintaining diplomatic relations with communist China. China has used the term “a principality of China” to refer to Taiwan as a province of China, and this is a broader interpretation than America.
Taiwan uses the term “One China” to mean that the Republic of China is the only legitimate Chinese state in the world and the communist People’s Republic of Beijing is a political aberration.
This isn’t the first time Biden has made a military commitment to defend Taiwan. In November, Biden had to clarify his comments after he said Taiwan was “independent” from China.
As always, China disciplines the lap dog. https://t.co/Pt8gbXukbj
– Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) October 22, 2021
Biden has repeatedly said “nothing will happen” on Taiwan, saying “We don’t promote freedom”.
In October, the White House also dropped its rhetoric on Taiwan after it said the United States would defend Taiwan if China invaded.
“Yes, we are obligated to do that,” he said on Monday.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki assured reporters at the time that Biden had no intention of signaling a change in policy.
“Unchanged. The President did not announce any changes in our policy and did not decide to change our policy,” he said. “Our policy does not change”
Source: Breitbart
