Biden Clarifies Military Intervention Remarks: "Taiwan Policy Remains Unchanged"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] U.S. President Joe Biden clarified his remarks about "military intervention," stating that the policy of "strategic ambiguity" toward Taiwan has not changed at all. On the 24th, when asked by reporters to clarify the U.S. position, President Biden responded, "As I said yesterday, the policy has not changed at all."

He sparked controversy by answering "Yes" to a question at a press conference following a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on the 23rd, about whether the U.S. would militarily intervene to defend Taiwan if China invades. China strongly condemned the remarks, saying the U.S. crossed a line on the Taiwan issue, which it considers a domestic matter.

Bloomberg News reported that the White House effectively retracted the statement, saying it was merely a promise of U.S. support to enable Taiwan to defend itself in the event of future hostile acts. The White House explained, "The President reaffirmed the U.S. 'One China' policy and the commitment to peace and stability in Taiwan." The news agency assessed that "this is similar to the U.S. declaring it will not send troops to Ukraine."

Meanwhile, under the Taiwan Relations Act, which includes security provisions for Taiwan, the U.S. has sold weapons for Taiwan's defense but has maintained "strategic ambiguity" by not clearly stating its position on military intervention should China invade Taiwan.