# Biden says he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan against China
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-05-23
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Biden asserts willingness to use force to defend Taiwan
Meta Description: Read about U.S. President Joe Biden's statement on using force to protect Taiwan against Chinese aggression. Dive into the implications and reactions here.
URL: https://financedigest.com/biden-says-he-would-be-willing-to-use-force-to-defend-taiwan-against-chinahtml

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By Trevor Hunnicutt and Sakura Murakami

TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday he would be willing to use force to [defend Taiwan against Chinese](https://www.financedigest.com/german-automakers-fight-to-defend-their-turf-from-chinese-rivals.html "German automakers fight to defend their turf from Chinese rivals") aggression in a comment that seemed to stretch the limits of the ambiguous U.S. policy towards the self-ruled island.

While Washington is required by law to [provide Taiwan with the means to defend](https://www.financedigest.com/banks-can-provide-a-protective-shield-to-defend-customers-from-cyber-attack.html "Banks can provide a protective shield to defend customers from cyber attack") itself, it has long followed a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.

After Biden made the remark at a joint news conference with Japanese [Prime Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/economist-odor-picked-as-slovakias-caretaker-prime-minister.html "Economist Odor picked as Slovakia’s caretaker prime minister") Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, an aide said the president’s statement represented no change in the long-standing American stance to the island that China claims as its own.

A reporter asked [Biden if the United States would defend Taiwan](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-begins-fifth-call-with-chinas-xi-looking-to-tamp-down-taiwan-tension.html "Biden begins fifth call with China’s Xi, looking to tamp down Taiwan tension") if it were attacked. “Yes,” the president answered.

That’s the commitment we made,” said Biden, who helped build an international coalition trying to thwart [Russia’s invasion of Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-promises-to-scale-down-operations-in-northern-ukraine.html "Russia promises to scale down operations in northern Ukraine").

“We agree with a one-China policy. We’ve [signed on to it and all the intended agreements](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-uk-to-sign-reciprocal-access-agreement-for-military-officers-yomiuri.html "Japan, UK to sign reciprocal access agreement for military officers -Yomiuri") made from there. But the idea that, that it (Taiwan) can be taken by force, just taken by force, is just not, is just not appropriate,” he said.

Biden added it was his expectation that such an event would not happen or be attempted.

But the comment was likely to be closely watched in a region worried about [China’s rising](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-rises-about-2-with-u-s-and-china-inflation-in-focus.html "Oil rises about 2% with U.S. and China inflation in focus") influence. [China has been a key topic for Biden](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-signs-bill-to-boost-u-s-chips-compete-with-china.html "Biden signs bill to boost U.S. chips, compete with China") on his inaugural trip to Asia.

A White House official later said there was no [change in policy towards Taiwan](https://www.financedigest.com/pelosi-praises-taiwan-says-asian-trip-wasnt-to-change-status-quo.html "Pelosi praises Taiwan, says Asian trip wasn’t to change status quo").

[China considers](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-considers-crackdown-on-memory-chip-makers-in-china.html "U.S. considers crackdown on memory chip makers in China") the democratic island its territory, under its “one China” principle, and says it is the most sensitive and important issue in its relationship with Washington.

China has no room for compromise or concessions on matters relating to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular news briefing.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry thanked Biden for his support.

Biden’s [national security aides shifted in their seats and appeared to be studying](https://www.financedigest.com/national-cinemedia-releases-first-cinema-attention-measurement-study-conducted-by-lumen-in-collaboration-with-dentsu.html "National CineMedia releases first cinema attention measurement study, conducted by Lumen in collaboration with dentsu") Biden closely as he responded to the question on Taiwan. Several looked down.

Biden made a similar comment in October, saying “Yes, we have a commitment to do that” when asked if the United States would come to the [defence of Taiwan](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-parliament-committee-chair-says-she-talked-defence-cooperation-on-taiwan-trip.html "UK parliament committee chair says she talked defence cooperation on Taiwan trip"). At that time, a White House spokesperson said Biden was not announcing any change in U.S. policy and one analyst referred to the comment as a “gaffe”.

[Despite the White House insistence that Monday’s comments did not represent a change of policy](https://www.financedigest.com/opec-seen-sticking-to-policy-despite-higher-oil-demand.html "OPEC+ seen sticking to policy despite higher oil demand"), Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and now a research fellow at the Japan [Forum for Strategic](https://www.financedigest.com/producers-distributors-aggregators-mobey-forum-charts-strategic-options-for-banks-in-the-post-psd2-age.html "Producers, Distributors, Aggregators: Mobey Forum Charts Strategic Options for Banks in the Post-PSD2 Age") Studies, said the meaning was clear.

“This statement deserves to be taken seriously,” Newsham said. “It is a clear enough statement that the U.S. will not sit by if [China attacks Taiwan.”](https://www.financedigest.com/companies-in-china-distance-themselves-from-taiwan-amid-pelosi-backlash.html "Companies in China distance themselves from Taiwan amid Pelosi backlash")

‘TOUGHEN THE POLICY’

Biden made other tough comments about Beijing’s increasingly assertive posture in the region, [saying he hoped Russian President Vladimir Putin would pay a price](https://www.financedigest.com/buy-off-plan-to-beat-stalling-house-prices-and-falling-rental-yields-says-jean-liggett.html "“Buy off-plan to beat stalling house prices and falling rental yields” says Jean Liggett ") for his invasion of Ukraine in part to show China what it would face if it were to invade Taiwan.

They’re seeking to toughen their [policy but without necessarily provoking China,”](https://www.financedigest.com/dutch-responds-to-us-china-policy-with-a-plan-to-curb-semiconductor-tech-exports.html "Dutch responds to US China policy with a plan to curb semiconductor tech exports") said James Brown, an associate professor at Temple University Japan.

Biden’s remarks are also likely to overshadow the centrepiece of his Japan visit, the launch of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a broad [plan providing an economic](https://www.financedigest.com/uae-plans-long-term-economic-ties-with-israel-despite-political-strains.html "UAE plans long-term economic ties with Israel despite political strains") pillar for U.S. engagement with Asia.

During his time in Tokyo, Biden is also scheduled to meet the leaders of India and Australia – the other members of the Quad, an informal security grouping [formed to counter China’s](https://www.financedigest.com/queues-form-at-fever-clinics-as-china-wrestles-with-covid-surge.html "Queues form at fever clinics as China wrestles with COVID surge") growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

[Japanese premier Kishida emphasised Tokyo’s](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-as-japan-aligns-with-u-s-chip-curbs-on-china-some-in-tokyo-feel-uneasy.html "Analysis-As Japan aligns with U.S. chip curbs on China, some in Tokyo feel uneasy") readiness to take a more robust defence posture, something the United States has long welcomed.

Kishida said he told Biden that Japan would [consider various options](https://www.financedigest.com/3-options-to-consider-when-you-owe-the-irs-back-taxes.html "3 Options to Consider When You Owe The IRS Back Taxes") to boost its defence capabilities, including the ability to retaliate. That would include a [“considerable increase”](https://www.financedigest.com/over-half-of-organisations-would-consider-using-cryptocurrencies-for-business-transactions-though-8-in-10-acknowledge-the-increased-risk-of-associated-ddos-attacks.html "Over half of organisations would consider using cryptocurrencies for business transactions, though 8 in 10 acknowledge the increased risk of associated DDoS attacks") in its defence budget, Kishida said.

Japan’s role in any conflict over Taiwan would be to enable a U.S. [operation and help the United States](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-brings-train-operator-transpennine-under-temporary-state-control.html "UK brings train operator TransPennine under temporary state control") defend its assets, said Yoji Koda, a retired Maritime Self Defense Force admiral and former fleet commander.

“Japan’s role in that would be substantial. Japan is an [enabler of that security](https://www.financedigest.com/contis-enables-google-pay-to-make-transacting-easier-and-more-secure.html "Contis enables Google Pay to make transacting easier and more secure") deterrence,” he said.

Kishida said that he had gained [support from Biden on Japan](https://www.financedigest.com/supporting-apple-pay-integration-in-japan.html "Supporting Apple Pay Integration in Japan") becoming a permanent member of the U.N. [Security Council](https://www.financedigest.com/durham-county-council-reduces-data-log-analysis-costs-by-50-with-real-time-analysis-and-security-tool.html "Durham County Council reduces data log analysis costs by 50% with real-time analysis and security tool") amid growing calls for reform of the council. [China and Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-sharply-scales-back-far-east-war-games-with-china.html "Russia sharply scales back Far East war games with China") are permanent members.

UPDATE 1-Biden’s Asian economic [talks include 13 countries](https://www.financedigest.com/as-who-pandemic-pact-talks-begin-poor-countries-on-back-foot.html "As WHO pandemic pact talks begin, poor countries on back foot"), and no ChinaChina’s foreign ministry hits back at Biden comments on U.S. [aiding Taiwan militarilyTaiwan foreign](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-maps-out-return-to-higher-foreign-aid-spending-after-covid-cuts.html "UK maps out return to higher foreign aid spending after COVID cuts") ministry thanks Biden for reaffirming safety commitment TIMELINE-Comments by Biden and others on U.S. policy of ‘ambiguity’ on Taiwan

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, Sakura Murakami, Chang-Ran Kim, Nobuhiro Kubo, Daniel Leussink, Kantaro Komiya, Ju-min Park, and Tim Kelly; Writing by Steve Holland, Elaine Lies and David Dolan; Editing by Mary Milliken, Robert Birsel, Simon Cameron-Moore and Nick Macfie)


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