(Tony Sifert, Headline USA) In the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s recent claim that the United States would militarily defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, the People’s Liberation Army of China held military drills around Taiwan in order to deter “collusion” between the two countries.
During a visit to Japan on May 23, Biden was asked whether he was willing “to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, if it comes to [a Chinese invasion].”
“Yes,” Biden responded. “That’s the commitment we made.”
Though the media pretended not to hear, and though the Biden administration immediately walked back the president’s comments, China certainly took them seriously, according to the South China Morning Post.
“It is hypocritical and futile for the United States to say one thing and do another on the Taiwan issue,” a Chinese military official said, as he issued a “solemn warning against recent collusion between the United States and Taiwan.”
This is the third time Biden’s comments on Taiwan have landed the United States in hot water, reported Helen Raleigh at The Federalist.
Biden made the same “gaffe” twice in 2021, the first time in August during an interview with ABC, and the second time during a CNN town hall in October.
“Such contradictions have raised questions, including who is in charge of U.S. policy on Taiwan and what that policy is,” Raleigh wrote.
“The lack of clarity on these questions is precarious, and not just for the future of Taiwan.”
In November 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken attempted to articulate the contours of the United States policy of “strategic ambiguity” in regards to the China-Taiwan relations.
“Our role [in the event of a Chinese invasion] is to make sure that [Taiwan] has the means to defend itself, because if it does, that is the best deterrent against any very, very, very unfortunate action that might be contemplated by China,” Blinken said.
Blinken will be delivering a major speech on the United States’ China policy this Thursday, according to Politico, which means it’s probably time to break out the popcorn and see what strategy the administration concocts this time.
