Defend Taiwan

Biden vows to defend Taiwan with US military if China invades

US president warns Beijing during first trip to Asia.

BY ALEX THOMPSON AND CAMILLE GIJS

U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday that the U.S. would intervene militarily to defend Taiwan if the island was invaded by China.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his first trip to Asia since taking office, Biden again voiced concern over China’s growing assertiveness across the region.

Biden suggested that the U.S. would go further on behalf of Taiwan than what it has done for Ukraine, where Washington has provided military help and intelligence assistance but no American troops following the Russian invasion in February.

When asked by a reporter if the U.S. would defend Taiwan if it were attacked by China, Biden responded: “Yes … That’s the commitment we made.”

“We agree with a One China policy,” Biden said. “We’ve signed on to it and all the intended agreements made from there. But the idea that, that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is just not, is just not appropriate.”

Biden did play down the possibility that China would try to seize Taiwan, saying that he didn’t expect it to happen.

Biden’s response to the question caused an audible stir in the room, with reporters quickly recognizing he had stepped further away from the strategic ambiguity of U.S. Taiwan policy than presidents are supposed to go. Heads turned away from Biden and to the U.S. delegation that was seated stage right to gauge their reaction. Those there — including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo — did their best to keep facial expressions unfazed though Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, bulged his eyes a bit in apparent surprise. 

Prior to the trip, it was clear that the issue was going to be a delicate one for the president. Taiwan was not going to be part of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, or IPEF. But Biden’s top trade representative, Katherine Tai, met with Taiwan minister John Deng late last week despite China’s warnings about U.S. support for Taiwan. 

It was also evident that Biden’s team had anticipated that a question about Taiwan would be asked. When he first responded, Biden read carefully from his notes. On the follow-up question, in which he responded affirmatively that “yes,” the U.S. would be willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, he did not.

Biden has had similar moments when discussing Taiwan and other international matters. Last August and October, the White House walked back similar comments about Taiwan. 

And the White House has followed a similar script too: the president sparks speculation as to whether he was deliberately advancing U.S. policy or committing classic Biden malapropisms, followed by a clarifying statement from someone “close” to him that toned down what he had said. 

Sure enough, shortly after the press conference, the White House attempted to tone down Biden’s remarks. In a statement sent to reporters, an official said: “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. He also reiterated our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself,” the statement read.

The One China policy is the diplomatic acknowledgement of China’s position that there is only one Chinese government. In this framework, the U.S. acknowledges, but doesn’t endorse, Beijing’s claims that Taiwan is part of China. Though the U.S. doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it has a “robust unofficial relationship” with the island.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington promises to provide the island with the means to defend itself. But so far, it has stopped short of pledging to send troops or directly intervene.