US President Joe Biden reiterated today in Tokyo that Washington’s “strategic ambiguity” over Taiwan has not changed, after yesterday he had assured that the US will defend the island militarilyif attacked by China.
“No,” Biden replied when asked by reporters if this American doctrine of Taiwan was a thing of the past.
“Politics has not changed at all, I said it yesterday,” he added.
The “strategic ambiguity” that the United States has adopted for decades against Taiwan consists in the diplomatic recognition of only mainland China. At the same time, Washington is committed to providing the autonomous island with military means to defend itself in the event of an invasion, without, however, clearly promising to intervene.
As of yesterday, both the White House and the Pentagon were quick to assure that this doctrine had not changed since Biden’s statements, which the world was wondering how to interpret: as a stricter stance on Beijing or as a new blunder. American president?
“This is a commitment we have made,” Biden was quoted as saying yesterday. Tokyo when asked by reporters if the US would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
After the end of China’s civil war in 1949, Taiwan is governed by a democratically elected government. Beijing still aims to “reunite” the island with “the motherland”. He has not ruled out using force, especially if the Taiwanese authorities formally declare the island independent.
Yesterday, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said it welcomes and thanks Biden and the US government for reaffirming their commitment to Taiwan.
For its part, China has urged the US president not to “underestimate” his “strong determination” to “protect its sovereignty”.
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