- US President Joe Biden has again pledged military support to Taiwan in the event of an attack.
- In a TV interview, he said yes to the question that the US would defend the island in the event of a Chinese invasion.
“Yes, if there were actually an unprecedented attack,” said Biden in a TV interview broadcast on Sunday evening (local time) when asked: “Would the US armed forces defend the island?”
Biden answered questions from Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes in the interview recorded Thursday. Pelley asked again: “So unlike Ukraine, to put it bluntly: US forces (…) would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?” Biden again answered in the affirmative.
White House rectifies statement
Pelley explained on the show that after the interview with Biden, the White House clarified that US policy had not changed and the US would not officially say whether American forces would defend Taiwan.
Biden had already made similarly clear statements on a trip to Japan in May, saying that the United States had an “obligation” to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack. At the beginning of August, US top politician Nancy Pelosi caused tensions with China with a trip to Taiwan.
Legend:
Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan has fueled tensions with China.
Keystone/Jim Lo Scalzo
The communist leadership in Beijing regards Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic and threatens to conquer it. The United States has committed itself to Taiwan’s ability to defend itself – which has so far primarily meant arms deliveries. The question of military assistance in the event of an attack was deliberately left open because Beijing would see this as a violation of the “One China Doctrine”.
Biden on Trump and the secret documents
In the same interview, the US President also commented for the first time on the criminal investigations against Donald Trump in connection with the government documents seized at his predecessor’s estate.
When Biden saw the classified documents seized during an FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Florida residence on August 8, he wondered “how anyone could be so irresponsible,” Biden told CBS on Sunday .
When asked if he would run again in the 2024 presidential election, Biden said it was too early to make such a decision. He intends to run again for the office of US President – if his health allows it.